Horizons Satellite
# Horizons Satellite

Horizons Satellite is a joint venture between Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Group. Originally formed in 2001, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between JSAT Corporation and PanAmSat for the launch of Horizons-1, it was renewed for Horizons-2. JSAT later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group and PanAmSat was acquired by Intelsat, but the companies continued with the relationship, with the order for Horizons-3e. Both companies also launched a joint satellite, Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85, but instead of the equal share agreement of this joint venture, JSAT owns a specific payload of 5 transponders out of the 22 $K_u$ band transponders of the spacecraft.

## History

On August 1, 2001, JSAT Corporation announced an equal share joint venture with PanAmSat, called Horizons Satellite. On September 4, 2001, it ordered from Boeing its first satellite, Horizons-1/Galaxy 13. It was a 4 t (4.4 tons) spacecraft with 24 C band and 24 $K_u$ band transponders. It had a 10 kW power generation capacity and 15 years of expected life.

On the same day of the satellite order, Boeing disclosed that it had received an parallel contract from PanAmSat, where the latter had exercised an existing option to launch Horizons-1 from its Sea Launch subsidiary.

On October 22, 2002, JSAT and PanAmSat announced a joint sales agreement where JSAT's clients would gain access to PAS 2 and PAS 8, while PanAmSat's would get JCSAT-2A and JCSAT-3. A week later, on October 28, Horizons Satellites obtained permission to operate in Japan.

Horizons-1 was successfully launched on October 1, 2003 aboard a Zenit-3SL rocket from the Ocean Odyssey platform in the Pacific.

On June 27, 2005, JSAT and PanAmSat announced that they were renewing the partnership by ordering a second satellite, Horizons-2. This $K_u$ band satellite would be positioned on the 74°West that belonged to PanAmSat.

On August 30, 2005, Orbital Sciences announced that Horizons Satellite had ordered a small satellite based on the STAR-2 platform, Horizons-2, for the PanAmSat licensed orbital slot at 74°West. It would carry 20 Ku band transponders, generate 3.5 kW of power, weight around 2.3 t (2.5 tons) and was expected to be launched in 2007.

The August 2005 take over of PanAmSat by Intelsat, did not diminished the relationship and, in fact, strengthened the alliance. On December 21, 2007, Horizons Satellite used an Ariane 5 rocket to launch Horizons-2. And, outside of the Horizons Satellite, JCSAT and Intelsat launched the joint satellite Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85 on November 30, 2009 aboard a Zenit-3SLB.

On November 4, 2015, JSAT and Intelsat made a joined statement that they would add a new member to their Horizons joint venture. The satellite, called Horizons 3e, would be based on the Intelsat $Epic^{NG}$ platform, featuring an optimized C band and high throughput $K_u$ band payload it would offer mobility and broadband connectivity services in the Asia-Pacific region. It was expected to use the 169°East orbital slot and launch by the second half of 2018.

This would be the fourth joint satellite, along with the other two Horizons Satellite spacecraft, Horizons-1 and Horizons-2 and the separately co-owned JCSAT-85/Intelsat 15. Since this would be an investment within Horizons Satellite, it would not be considered a capital expenditure of the parent companies.

## Horizons Fleet

It has two satellites on-orbit Horizons-1 and Horizons-2, with a third, Horizons-3e planned for 2018.

| Project | Name | Bus | Payload | Order | Launch | Launch Vehicle | Launch Result | Launch Weight | Status | Remarks |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Horizons-1 | Horizons-1 Galaxy 13 | HS-601HP | 24 $K_u$ band and 24 C band | 2001 | 2003-10-01 | Zenit-3SL | Success | 4,060 kg (8,950 lb) | Operational at 127°E | Co-owned with Intelsat. |
| Horizons-2 | Horizons-2 | GEOStar-2 | 20 $K_u$ band | 2005 | 2007-12-21 | Ariane 5GS | Success | 2,304 kg (5,079 lb) | Operational at 85°E | Launched along Rascom-QAF 1. Co-owned with Intelsat |
| Horizons-3e | — | BSS-702MP | C band and $K_u$ band | 2015 | 2019 2nd Half | — | Planned | 6 t (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) | Planned | Horizons Satellite 3rd satellite. Co-owned with Intelsat, $Epic^{NG}$ architecture. Will replace Intelsat 805. |
