Horizons Satellite

Last updated
Horizons Satellite
Company type joint venture
Industry Satellite communications
FoundedJuly 1, 2001;22 years ago (2001-07-01), United States
Founders JSAT Corporation, PanAmSat
Products
Total equity US$ 110 Millions (2001)
Owners

Horizons Satellite is a joint venture between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Group. Originally formed in 2001, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between JSAT Corporation and PanAmSat for the launch of Horizons-1, it was renewed for Horizons-2. [1] [2] [3] [4] JSAT later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group and PanAmSat was acquired by Intelsat, but the companies continued with the relationship, with the order for Horizons-3e. [5] Both companies also launched a joint satellite, Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85, but instead of the equal share agreement of this joint venture, JSAT owns a specific payload of 5 transponders out of the 22 Ku band transponders of the spacecraft. [6] [7]

Contents

History

On August 1, 2001, JSAT Corporation announced an equal share joint venture with PanAmSat, called Horizons Satellite. [1] [2] On September 4, 2001, it ordered from Boeing its first satellite, Horizons-1 / Galaxy 13 . It was a 4 t (4.4 tons) spacecraft with 24 C band and 24 Ku band transponders. It had a 10 kW power generation capacity and 15 years of expected life. [8]

On the same day of the satellite order, Boeing disclosed that it had received an parallel contract from PanAmSat, where the latter had exercised an existing option to launch Horizons-1 from its Sea Launch subsidiary. [9]

On October 22, 2002, JSAT and PanAmSat announced a joint sales agreement where JSAT's clients would gain access to PAS 2 and PAS 8, while PanAmSat's would get JCSAT-2A and JCSAT-3. [10] [11] A week later, on October 28, Horizons Satellites obtained permission to operate in Japan. [12]

Horizons-1 was successfully launched on October 1, 2003 aboard a Zenit-3SL rocket from the Ocean Odyssey platform in the Pacific. [13] [14] [15]

On June 27, 2005, JSAT and PanAmSat announced that they were renewing the partnership by ordering a second satellite, Horizons-2. This Ku band satellite would be positioned on the 74°West that belonged to PanAmSat. [3] [4]

On August 30, 2005, Orbital Sciences announced that Horizons Satellite had ordered a small satellite based on the STAR-2 platform, Horizons-2, for the PanAmSat licensed orbital slot at 74°West. It would carry 20 Ku band transponders, generate 3.5 kW of power, weight around 2.3 t (2.5 tons) and was expected to be launched in 2007. [16]

The August 2005 take over of PanAmSat by Intelsat, did not diminished the relationship and, in fact, strengthened the alliance. [5] On December 21, 2007, Horizons Satellite used an Ariane 5 rocket to launch Horizons-2. [17] And, outside of the Horizons Satellite, JCSAT and Intelsat launched the joint satellite Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85 on November 30, 2009 aboard a Zenit-3SLB. [7]

On November 4, 2015, JSAT and Intelsat made a joined statement that they would add a new member to their Horizons joint venture. The satellite, called Horizons 3e, would be based on the Intelsat EpicNG platform, featuring an optimized C band and high throughput Ku band payload it would offer mobility and broadband connectivity services in the Asia-Pacific region. [18] It was expected to use the 169°East orbital slot and launch by the second half of 2018. [19]

This would be the fourth joint satellite, along with the other two Horizons Satellite spacecraft, Horizons-1 and Horizons-2 and the separately co-owned JCSAT-85/Intelsat 15. Since this would be an investment within Horizons Satellite, it would not be considered a capital expenditure of the parent companies. [6]

Horizons Fleet

It has two satellites on-orbit Horizons-1 and Horizons-2, with a third, Horizons-3e planned for 2018.

ProjectNameBusPayloadOrderLaunchLaunch VehicleLaunch ResultLaunch WeightStatusRemarks
Horizons-1 Horizons-1
Galaxy 13
HS-601HP 24 Ku band and 24 C band 20012003-10-01 Zenit-3SL Success4,060 kg (8,950 lb)Operational at 127°ECo-owned with Intelsat. [20] [13]
Horizons-2 Horizons-2 GEOStar-2 20 Ku band 20052007-12-21 Ariane 5GS Success2,304 kg (5,079 lb)Operational at 85°ELaunched along Rascom-QAF 1. Co-owned with Intelsat [20] [17]
Horizons-3e BSS-702MP C band and Ku band 20152019 2nd HalfSuccess6 t (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons)Operational at 169°EHorizons Satellite 3rd satellite. Co-owned with Intelsat, EpicNG architecture. Will replace Intelsat 805. [18] [19] [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

JCSAT-5A or N-STAR d, known as JCSAT-9 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT), which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">JCSAT-16</span>

JCSAT-16 is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It has a launch weight of 4,600 kg (10,100 lb), a power production capacity of 8.5 kW and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of Ku band and Ka band transponders. SKY Perfect JSAT Group plans to use JCSAT-16 as an in-orbit backup satellite for the Ku- and Ka-band satellites serving the Japanese market.

JCSAT-4B, known as JCSAT-13 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

BSAT-3c, also known as JCSAT-110R, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

JCSAT-2B, known as JCSAT-14 before commissioning, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It had a launch weight of 4,696.2 kg (10,353 lb), a power production capacity of 9 to 9.9 kW at end of life and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of 26 C band and 18 Ku band transponders with a total bandwidth of 2,853 MHz.

JCSAT-15 is a communications satellite designed and manufactured for SKY Perfect JSAT Group by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It has a launch weight of 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), a power production capacity of 10 kW and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of Ku band and Ka band transponders.

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The JSAT constellation is a communication and broadcasting satellite constellation formerly operated by JSAT Corporation and currently by SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has become the most important commercial constellation in Japan, and fifth in the world. It has practically amalgamated all private satellite operators in Japan, with only B-SAT left as a local competitor.

JCSAT-3A, known as JCSAT-10 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

JCSAT-4 was known as JCSAT-R until it was sold to Intelsat in 2009. It is a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-601 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by JSAT Corporation, which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has a mixed Ku-band and C-band payload and was used as an on orbit spare.

JCSAT-3 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-601 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by JSAT Corporation, which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has a mixed Ku-band and C-band payload and operated on the 128° East longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-3A.

JCSAT-1 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-393 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Japan Communications Satellite Company (JCSAT), which later merged into the JSAT Corporation. It had a Ku-band payload and operated on the 150° East longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-1B.

JCSAT-2 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-393 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Japan Communications Satellite Company (JCSAT), which later merged into the JSAT Corporation. It had a Ku-band payload and operated on the 154° East longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-2A.

References

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