JCSAT-3

JCSAT-3 was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Hughes (now Boeing) on the HS-601 platform. 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 operated on the 128°E longitude until it was replaced by JCSAT-3A.[3]

JCSAT-3
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorIntelsat
COSPAR ID1995-043A[1]
SATCAT no.23649
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftJCSAT-3
BusHS-601
ManufacturerHughes
Launch mass3,105 kg (6,845 lb)
Dry mass1,841 kg (4,059 lb)
Dimensions26.2 m × 7.5 m (86 ft × 25 ft) with solar panels and antennas deployed.
Power5 kW
Start of mission
Launch date00:53:00, August 29, 1995 (UTC) (1995-08-29T00:53:00Z)[2]
RocketAtlas IIAS
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-36B
ContractorInternational Launch Services
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeInclined geosynchronous
Transponders
BandKu band: 12 × 36 Mhz + 16 × 27 Mhz
C band: 12 x 36 MHz
Bandwidth1,296 MHz
TWTA powerKu band: 63 Watts
C band: 34 Watts
 

Satellite description

The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by Hughes on the HS-601 satellite bus. It had a launch mass of 3,105 kg (6,845 lb), a dry mass of 1,841 kg (4,059 lb) and a 12-year design life. When stowed for launch, its dimensions were 2.8 m × 4.9 m × 3.8 m (9 ft 2 in × 16 ft 1 in × 12 ft 6 in). With its solar panels fully extended it spanned 26.2 m (86 ft), and its width when its antennas were fully deployed was 7.5 m (25 ft).[3] Its power system generated approximately 5 kW of power thanks to two wings with four solar panels each.[3][4] It also had a single NiH2 battery composed of 30 cells and a 200Ah charge.[3] It would serve as the main satellite on the 128°E longitude position of the JSAT fleet.[3]

Its propulsion system was composed of an R-4D-11-300 LAE with a thrust of 490 N (110 lbf). It also used had 12 22 N (4.9 lbf) bipropellant thrusters for station keeping and attitude control. It included enough propellant for orbit circularization and 12 years of operation.[3]

Its payload is composed of four octagonal antenna fed by twelve 36 MHz and sixteen 27 MHz Ku band plus twelve 27 MHz C band transponders for a total bandwidth of 1,296 MHz.[3] The Ku band transponders have a TWTA output power of 63 Watts while the twelve C band transponders have 34 Watts of power.[3]

History

On 1993, Japan Communications Satellite Company and Satellite Japan Corporation merged to form Japan Satellite Systems Inc. (JCSAT).[5] That same year, JCSAT ordered JCSAT-3, a third satellite from Hughes, but this time using the HS-601 platform.[3] In 1995, JCSAT obtained a license for international service, and thus became a regional operator.[5]

On August 29 at 00:53:00 UTC, an Atlas IIAS launching from Cape Canaveral LC-36B successfully launched JCSAT-3 into orbit. It was positioned into the 128° East slot.[3]

On April 20, 2004, JSAT ordered a second satellite from Lockheed, JCSAT-10. Based on the A2100AX platform, it would have a C band and Ku band payload and was expected to replace JCSAT-3 at the 128°East slot after its planned 2006 launch.[6]

On October 11, an Ariane 5 ECA launched JCSAT-10 along Syracuse-3B into a transfer orbit. Upon successful deployment at 128°East longitude, it was renamed JCSAT-3A.[7] On March 2007, JCSAT-3 was retired and decommissioned.[8][9]

References
  1. "JCSAT 3". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  2. "JCSAT 3". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  3. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-04-21). "JCSat 3, 4 (JCSat R) → Intelsat 26". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  4. "Hughes Built JCSAT-4 To Boost Services In Pacific Rim". warunasat.com. Hughes. February 14, 1997. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  5. "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  6. "JSAT Corporation Awards Lockheed Martin Contract For Second A2100 Satellite". Icaa.eu. Lockheed Martin Space Systems. April 20, 2004. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  7. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-04-21). "JCSat 10, 11, 12 (JCSat 3A, RA)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  8. "Radio Regulatory Council Summary of Minutes (912th Meeting)" (PDF). Secretariat of the Radio Regulatory Council of Japan. December 13, 2006. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  9. "JCSAT 3". n2yo.com. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
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