Hispasat gives launch orders to SpaceX and to ILS as SpaceX also confirms Arabsat 6A launch for Falcon 9 Heavy while Arianespace gets B-SAT-4a

During September 2015, Spanish satellite operator Hispasat S.A. has announced that it has signed two launch contracts – one with International Launch Services (ILS) for a Proton M launch, and one with SpaceX for a launch on Falcon 9.  The exact identities of the spacecraft have not been confirmed though they are expected to be Amazonas 5 and Hispasat 1F, both of which are currently being constructed by Space Systems/Loral.  The ILS launch order marks the first since Phil Slack left his position as President of ILS to be replaced by Kirk Pysher, previously ILS Vice President in charge of Mission Assurance.    SpaceX also announced that it has signed a launch contract with the Middle Eastern satellite operator Arabsat for the launch of its Arabsat 6A spacecraft on the Falcon 9 Heavy.   The flight is likely to take place in the 2017-2018 timeframe.  The original notification of this order was in April. Arianespace announced that it was selected by Space Systems/Loral to launch the BSAT-4a satellite for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan.  BSAT-4a will be launched by an Ariane 5 in late 2017 from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, as part of a turnkey contract between the spacecraft’s manufacturer Space Systems/Loral and the Japanese operator B-SAT. The 3,500kg BSAT-4a uses the SSL-1300 bus design. The satellite is fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders and will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 110 degrees East to provide digital broadcast services to Japan including 4K/8K ultra high definition television (UHDTV) services.