BSAT-4a is a geostationary

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth ...

ordered by

Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) is a Japanese corporation established in April 1993 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellites. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK, the Japan Broadcasting ...

(BSAT) and designed and manufactured by SSL on the

SSL 1300 The SSL 1300, previously the LS-1300 and the FS-1300, is a satellite bus produced by Maxar Technologies. Total broadcast power ranges from 5 to 25 kW, and the platform can accommodate from 12 to 150 transponders. The SSL 1300 is a modular platf ...

platform. It is expected to be stationed on the 110.0° East orbital slot for direct television broadcasting of 4K and 8K

Ultra HD Ultra-high-definition television (also known as Ultra HD television, Ultra HD, UHDTV, UHD and Super Hi-Vision) today includes 4K UHD and 8K UHD, which are two digital video formats with an aspect ratio of 16:9. These were first proposed b ...

resolutions.

Satellite description

BSAT-4a was designed and manufactured by SSL on the

satellite bus A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held. Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus- ...

for BSAT. It has an estimated launch mass of with a 15-year design life. It will have a single K_u-band payload with 24

transponders In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''. In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a flight tran ...

. It will cover Japan with 4K and 8K

television satellite service.

History

On 18 June 2015, BSAT ordered the first of its fourth generation satellites from SSL, BSAT-4a. It was expected to be weight around , have 24 K_u-band

with a 15-year design life. It was launched on 29 September 2017. It was planned, too, that commercial broadcasting of 4K and 8K signals would begin, and have full broadcast of

Tokyo 2020 Olympics The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July. Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 1 ...

with that resolution. On 14 September 2015 of the same year, BSAT contracted

Arianespace Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the operation and marketing of the Ariane programme. The company offers a number of different launch vehicles: the heavy ...

for an Ariane 5 ECA launch service. During the same month of September BSAT received a preliminary license for broadcasting 4K and 8K

References

{{Orbital launches in 2017 Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Satellites using the SSL 1300 bus Communications satellites of Japan Satellites of Japan Ariane commercial payloads Spacecraft launched in 2017