Fresh off its second successful launch of a commercial communication satellite, SpaceX announced January 10 that the company won another lucrative launch contract. SpaceX’s newest customer is SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation of Japan, who have contracted to launch the JCSAT-14 communications satellite to a geostationary transfer orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket in the second half of 2015. This brings SpaceX’s backlog to nearly 50 civilian and government satellites.
“SpaceX looks forward to working with SKY Perfect JSAT on this mission,” said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO. “As Asia’s largest satellite operator, we appreciate JSAT’s confidence in our ability to reliably deliver their satellite to orbit.”
JCSAT-14 is a Space Systems/Loral (SSL) telecommunications satellite that will succeed and replace JCSAT-2A, providing coverage to Asia, Russia, Oceania and the Pacific Islands. With 26 optimized C-band transponders and 18 Ku-Band transponders, the satellite will extend JCSAT-2A’s geographical footprint and address fast-growing mobility markets across the Asia-Pacific region.
JCSAT-14 will succeed and replace JCSAT-2A in the orbital position of 154 degree East Longitude. Based on the SSL 1300 platform, the new satellite will feature larger, redesigned C-band and Ku-band payloads, boosting the available regional capacity by multiple folds.
The new satellite is designed to fulfill the growing demand for telecommunication infrastructure in Asia Pacific. It offers extensive coverage over Asia, Russia, Oceania and the Pacific Islands. Broadcast and data networks can be established and upgraded with ease via the optimized C-band beams. New regional Ku-band beams are also added to extend the satellite’s geographical footprint and to address the fast-growing mobility markets, enabling high-speed connectivity for vessels, aircrafts, and the resources exploration industries such as mining, oil and gas companies, where the requirement for flexible, reliable service is greater than ever.
Shinji Takada, Representative Director, President & CEO of SKY Perfect JSAT, said, “Asia Pacific is our home and we are confident about its future potential. SKY Perfect JSAT is committed to expanding our international business by creating the best service and most desirable coverage in the Asia Pacific region, while striving to expand our service portfolio in Japan. The decision to build JCSAT-14 represents another important step towards achieving that goal. We look forward to working with SSL on building this satellite, which will help elevate our service to a new level”.
