Although it won the authorization to proceed with the satellite design and construction on April 27, Lockheed Martin said it formally signed the contract with Broadcasting Satellite System Corp. of Japan to build the company’s next satellite.

The spacecraft, BSat 3a, will provide direct broadcast services from 110 degrees East throughout Japan. It is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2007. It will carry eight Ku-band channels. The satellite is based on the Lockheed Martin A2100 platform and has a design life of more than 13 years.

Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.