It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group.
It was based on the design of the Intelsat V series and offered a three-axis stabilized platform.
[1][6] Its propulsion system included an R-4D-11 liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 490 N (110 lbf).
[4] Space Communications Corporation (SCC) was founded in 1985, the same year as the original companies that later formed JSAT.
[10] On 1986 SCC ordered four spacecraft, Superbird-1, Superbird-2, Superbird-A1 and Superbird-B1 from Ford Aerospace, which became Space Systems/Loral in October 1990.