N-STAR b

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N-STAR b
Mission type Communication
Operator SKY Perfect JSAT Group
COSPAR ID 1996-007A [1]
SATCAT no. 23781
Mission duration10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftN-STAR b
Bus SSL 1300
Manufacturer Space Systems/Loral
Launch mass3,400 kg (7,500 lb) [2]
BOL mass 2,050 kg (4,520 lb)
Dry mass1,617 kg (3,565 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date5 February 1996, 07:19:38 UTC [1]
Rocket Ariane 44P H10-3
Launch site Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Geostationary orbit
Transponders
Band6 C-band
11 Ka-band
8 Ku-band
1 S-band [3]
Coverage areaJapan
  N-STAR a
N-STAR c  
 

N-STAR b, was a geostationary communications satellite originally ordered by a consortium including NTT DoCoMo and JSAT Corporation, and later fully acquired by JSAT, which was merged into SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It was designed and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral on the SSL 1300 platform. [2] It had a launch weight of 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), and a 10-year design life. [2] Its payload is composed of 6 C-band, 11 Ka-band, 8 Ku-band and 1 S-band transponders.

Contents

History

N-Star was created as a joint venture between JSAT, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), NTT Communications and NTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter two WIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service. [4] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload. [5] [6]

Two identical satellites were ordered on 1992 from Space Systems Loral, N-STAR a and N-STAR b, for 1995 and 1996 on orbit delivery. [7] [8] They would be "switchboards in the sky" having S-band, C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band payload. [9]

N-STAR a was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44P on 29 August 1995. Its twin, N-STAR b, launched on 5 February 1996, also aboard an Ariane 44P. [2] [9] The satellite telephone service was operational in March 1996. In March 2000, the packet communications service was introduced. [10] In March 2000, JSAT received the NTT Communications interest in the N-STAR a and N-STAR b. [11] [12]

In August 2003, the JSAT acquired the NTT DoCoMo interest on N-STAR a and N-STAR b, whom then leased them back. [13] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

JCSAT-5A or N-STAR d, known as JCSAT-9 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT), which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

JSAT Corporation (JSAT) was the first private Japanese satellite operator, which owned the JSAT satellites, as well as operated and partially owned the N-Star with NTT DoCoMo. Its origins can be traced to the funding of Japan Communications Satellite Company (JCSAT) and Satellite Japan Corporation in 1985. Both companies merged into Japan Satellite Systems Inc. in 1993. In 2000 the company was renamed as JSAT Corporation and was listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. On September 1, 2008, the company was merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">SKY Perfect JSAT</span> Japanese satellite operator and satellite TV company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">JCSAT-16</span>

JCSAT-16 is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It has a launch weight of 4,600 kg (10,100 lb), a power production capacity of 8.5 kW and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of Ku band and Ka band transponders. SKY Perfect JSAT Group plans to use JCSAT-16 as an in-orbit backup satellite for the Ku- and Ka-band satellites serving the Japanese market.

JCSAT-2B, known as JCSAT-14 before commissioning, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It had a launch weight of 4,696.2 kg (10,353 lb), a power production capacity of 9 to 9.9 kW at end of life and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of 26 C band and 18 Ku band transponders with a total bandwidth of 2,853 MHz.

JCSAT-15 is a communications satellite designed and manufactured for SKY Perfect JSAT Group by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It has a launch weight of 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), a power production capacity of 10 kW and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of Ku band and Ka band transponders.

DSN-2, also known as Kirameki-2, is a geostationary communications satellite to be operated by DSN Corporation, a subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Group. Its payload is a pure X-band and will be used for military communications by the Japanese military. It was launched and successfully deployed on 24 January 2017 using a H-IIA rocket flying in its heaviest configuration, the H-IIA 204. It is Japan's first dedicated military communication satellite and is designed for at least fifteen years of service.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">JCSAT-17</span> Communications satellite

JCSAT-17 is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group. The satellite was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space on the LM-2100 platform, and was launched on 18 February 2020 on an Ariane 5. The satellite mainly provides service to Japan and the surrounding regions. Utilizing several S-band transponders with a flexible processor, the satellite has the capability to redirect communications capacity to concentrate on disaster relief efforts or other high-volume events.

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JCSAT-4 was known as JCSAT-R until it was sold to INTELSAT in 2009. It is a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-601 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by JSAT Corporation, which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has a mixed Ku-band and C-band payload and was used as an on orbit spare.

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N-STAR a, was a geostationary communications satellite originally ordered by a consortium including NTT DoCoMo and JSAT Corporation, and later fully acquired by JSAT, which was merged into SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It was designed and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral on the SSL 1300 platform. It had a launch weight of 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), and a 10-year design life. Its payload is composed of 6 C-band, 11 Ka-band, 8 Ku-band and 1 S-band transponders.

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Superbird-B3, known as Superbird-8 before launch, and DSN-1 (Kirameki-1) for its military payload, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric on the DS2000 satellite bus.

References

  1. 1 2 "Display: N-STAR B 1996-006A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Krebs, Gunter (11 December 2017). "N-Star a, b". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. "Communications in Japan 1999" (PDF). General Planning and Policy Division, Minister's Secretariat (Page 132) (Whitepaper) (1999 ed.). Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japan. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  5. "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 8 February 2002. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  7. "N-Star". Global Security. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. "Awards & Launch History - 1300 Bus Satellites". SSL (company). Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. 1 2 "N-Star a and b". SSL (company). Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. Yamamoto, Kazuichi; Furukawa, Makoto; Satoh, Hijin; Nishi, Yasuki; Kouji, Horikawa (September 2010). "Overview of WIDESTAR II Mobile Satellite Communications System and Service" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo Technical Journal. NTT DoCoMo. 12 (2): 37–42. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  11. "Who we are?". SKY Perfect JSAT Group. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  12. "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  13. "NTT DoCoMo to Transfer Satellite Assets to JSAT and Acquire JSAT Common Stock". NTT DoCoMo. 31 July 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  14. "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2016.