Broadcasting Satellite
Encyclopedia
Broadcasting Satellite or BS is a common name of one of the direct broadcast satellite
s in Japan.
The first satellite of this series, called BSE or Yuri
was launched in 1978. The last BS series satellite, BS-3b, was launched in 1991.
The 350 kg BSE was followed in 1984 and 1986 by the operational and essentially identical BS-2a and BS-2b, respectively. Each spacecraft carried two active and one spare 100 W. 14/12 GHz transponder
s. Built by Toshiba
with assistance from General Electric
, the BS-2 series satellites were designed for five years of operation. BS-2a was moved to a graveyard orbit
in 1989, followed by BS-2b in 1992.
BS satellites were used for Direct-To-Home television services in Japan. Japanese satellite television
, which uses an analog format
, started with test broadcasts carried out by the semigovernmental NHK
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation) in 1984. It was considered that direct satellite TV reception (DTH) was obtainable by a small parabolic antenna
from 40 cm to 60 cm in diameter in all areas of Japan
when broadcast from a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) of 110 degree
s of east longitude. All BS satellites have been of the same basic configuration: 3-axis stabilization of a rectangular spacecraft
bus
with two elongated solar arrays.
After the first successful test of satellite broadcasting with a TV signal, many Japanese producers of consumer electronics began to deliver a range of equipment with built-in satellite
receivers
to the local consumer market.
Eventually, the satellites of the BS series were replaced by the more advanced B-Sat
series.
Direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite is a term used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception.A designation broader than DBS would be direct-to-home signals, or DTH. This has initially distinguished the transmissions directly intended for home viewers from cable television...
s in Japan.
The first satellite of this series, called BSE or Yuri
Yuri
Yuri is a common first name in several languages, with alternately masculine and feminine denotations depending on the specific culture. In Russia, for example, Юрий is a common male given name meaning 'George', while in Japan it is a traditional female name meaning 'lily', and in Korea, it is also...
was launched in 1978. The last BS series satellite, BS-3b, was launched in 1991.
The 350 kg BSE was followed in 1984 and 1986 by the operational and essentially identical BS-2a and BS-2b, respectively. Each spacecraft carried two active and one spare 100 W. 14/12 GHz transponder
Transponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
s. Built by Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
with assistance from General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, the BS-2 series satellites were designed for five years of operation. BS-2a was moved to a graveyard orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
in 1989, followed by BS-2b in 1992.
BS satellites were used for Direct-To-Home television services in Japan. Japanese satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
, which uses an analog format
Format
Format may refer to:* File format, layout for electronic files* Text formatting, typesetting of text elements* Format , a command-line utility in many computer operating systems* Format , a computer command to prepare hard disks...
, started with test broadcasts carried out by the semigovernmental NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation) in 1984. It was considered that direct satellite TV reception (DTH) was obtainable by a small parabolic antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
from 40 cm to 60 cm in diameter in all areas of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
when broadcast from a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) of 110 degree
Degree (angle)
A degree , usually denoted by ° , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1⁄360 of a full rotation; one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians...
s of east longitude. All BS satellites have been of the same basic configuration: 3-axis stabilization of a rectangular spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
with two elongated solar arrays.
After the first successful test of satellite broadcasting with a TV signal, many Japanese producers of consumer electronics began to deliver a range of equipment with built-in satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
receivers
Receiver (radio)
A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
to the local consumer market.
Eventually, the satellites of the BS series were replaced by the more advanced B-Sat
Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation
The Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation is a Japanese corporation established 1993-04-13 to procure, manage and lease transponders on communications satellites. Its largest stockholder, owning 49.9%, is NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation...
series.
Satellites
| Satellite | Launch Date | Vehicle | Launch Site | NSSDC ID | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSE | 1978-04-07 | Delta 2914 | CCAFS LC-17 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17 , previously designated Launch Complex 17 , was a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida used for Thor and Delta rocket launches between 1958 and 2011.... |
1978-039A | Also known as "Yuri 1" |
| BS-2A | 1984-01-23 | N-2 | Tanegashima Tanegashima Space Center The is one of Japan's space development facilities. It is located on Tanegashima, an island located 115 km south of Kyūshū. It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan was formed... |
1984-005A | Two of three transponders failed within three months |
| BS-2B | 1986-02-12 | N-2 | Tanegashima | 1986-016A | |
| BS-X | 1990-02 | Launch failure | |||
| BS-2X | 1990-02-22 | Ariane 44L | CSG | Destroyed during launch of Ariane V36 | |
| BS-3A | 1990-08-28 | H-I H-I The H-I or H-1 was a Japanese liquid-fuelled carrier rocket, consisting of a licence-produced American first stage and set of booster rockets, and all-Japanese upper stages. It was launched nine times between 1986 and 1992... |
Tanegashima Space Center,Tanegashima Japan | 1990-077A | |
| BS-3H | 1991-04-19 | Atlas-Centaur Atlas I The Atlas I was an American expendable launch system, used in the 1990s to launch a variety of different satellites. The "I" in "Atlas I" can cause confusion, as all previous Atlas rockets were designated using letters, ending with the Atlas H, however subsequent rockets were designated using roman... |
CCAFS LC-36 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 36 Launch Complex 36 , known as Space Launch Complex 36 from 1997 to 2010, is a launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Brevard County, Florida. Now operated under license by Space Florida, it was used for Atlas launches from 1962 until 2005... |
Destroyed during launch of Atlas-Centaur #070 | |
| BS-3B | 1991-08-25 | H-I | Tanegashima | 1991-060A | |
| BS-3N | 1994-07-08 | Ariane 44L | CSG | 1994-040B |