Arianespace to launch Japanese broadcast satellite

Arianespace on April 19 announced an agreement with Japan’s Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation and satellite manufacturer Space Systems Loral to launch the BSAT-4b satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket in 2020. The agreement follows the launch of BSAT-4a on an Ariane 5 in September 2017. BSAT is building up its satellite infrastructure ahead of the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, which start in July 2020. Seeking to have BSAT-4b as an in-orbit backup ahead of the games, BSAT picked SSL to build the satellite last month. BSAT-4b will feature an identical co More

(Source: SpaceNews - Apr 20)