B-SAT Selects Arianespace to Launch its Next Satellite

Arianespace has announced that it will launch BSAT-4b as part of a turnkey contract between Japanese satellite operator B-SAT and Maxar’s California-based satellite manufacturer SSL. Since the creation of B-SAT, Arianespace has launched all nine of its satellites. BSAT-4b not only marks the 10th launch but also the 32nd commercial geostationary satellite launch contract awarded to Arianespace in Japan.

Built by SSL using a 1300 platform, BSAT-4b will feature 24 Ku-band transponders. It will weigh about 3,520 kg at launch and is designed to have a nominal service life of at least 15 years. It will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 110 degrees East. BSAT-4b will serve as a back-up of BSAT-4a, which Arianespace launched in September 2017. It will have the same Japanese archipelago footprint as BSAT-4a, providing Direct-to-Home television to ensure 4K/8K ultra-high definition video distribution for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

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The Meteosat Third Generation system imaging system is now complete after Arianespace launched the second satellite on Aug. 27.

European meteorological agency EUMETSAT confirmed after the launch that the MTG-I2 is in orbit and operating as expected. Teams have established communication and the spacecraft deployed its solar panels. As part of the launch and early operations phase, the satellite will now orbit raise to its final position before on-orbit calibration begins.

Arianespace launched MTG-12 in an Ariane 6 mission from French Guiana on Thursday at 5:11 p.m. local time (4:11 p.m. ET). The satellite separated from the launcher 36 minutes into the mission. Ariane 6 launched the satellite to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

For Arianespace, this was the first Ariane 6 launch to GTO, which CEO David Cavaillolès called a “major milestone” for the program. This was the fourth Ariane 6 mission this year.

MTG-I2 will provide critical weather information for Europe and Africa, including fire-detection capabilities. EUMETSAT said the satellite will provide more rapid observations, refreshing imagery every 2.5 minutes. This will help meteorological services identify hazardous developments sooner. It is also equipped with its dedicated fire-detection channels to identify and characterize active fires.

“With MTG-I2, we are unlocking the complete capabilities of this extraordinary European system. In particular, MTG-I2 will enable much more frequent observations over Europe, giving forecasters a more continuous view of rapidly developing weather and helping national meteorological services provide timely and reliable warnings,” commented EUMETSAT Director General Phil Evans.

Thales Alenia Space was the prime contractor for the MTG-12 satellite, built in collaboration with OHB. Teledyne Space Imaging supplied the CIS111 detector within its Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) instrument, designed to provide frequent, high-resolution observations of the Earth.

The satellite will operate in tandem with the first imager, Meteosat-12 launched in 2022, and MTG-S1, launched in July 2025.