Superbird-A1

Superbird-A1, also identified as Superbird-1A before launch, was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace (now SSL MDA) on the SSL 1300 platform. It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group.[5] It had a mixed K_u band and K_a band payload and operated on the 158°E longitude.[1][6]

Superbird-A

Mission type	Communication
Operator	Space Systems/Loral
COSPAR ID	1992-084A[1]
SATCAT no.	22253
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Superbird-A1
Bus	SSL 1300
Manufacturer	Ford Aerospace
Launch mass	2,780 kg (6,130 lb)
Dimensions	Stowed:2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in) Solar arrays extended:20.3 m (67 ft)
Power	4 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	22:48:00, December 1, 1992 (UTC)[2]
Rocket	Ariane-42P
Launch site	Kourou ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Inclined geosynchronous
Semi-major axis	42,491 km
Perigee altitude	36,053.0 km
Apogee altitude	36,187.7 km
Inclination	8.2°
Period	1,452.8 minutes
Epoch	2016-08-19 00:00:00UTC[3]
Transponders
Band	14 Ku band and 30 Ka band[4]
Superbird

It was ordered in 1985 along Superbird-B, Superbird-A1 and Superbird-B1 on the very first order of the SSL 1300 platform.[6][7][8][9]

Satellite description

The spacecraft was the fourth satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace on the SSL 1300 satellite bus. It was based on the design of the Intelsat V series and offered a three-axis stabilized platform.[6][7][8][9]

It had a launch mass of 2,780 kg (6,130 lb) and a 10-year design life.[1][4] When stowed for launch, its dimensions were 2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in). With its solar panels fully extended it spanned 20.3 m (67 ft). Its power system generated approximately 3,984 W of power due to two wings with three solar panels each.[1][6] It also a NiH₂ battery to survive the solar eclipses. It would serve as the main satellite on the 158°E longitude position of the Superbird.[1][6]

Its propulsion system included an R-4D-11 LAE with a thrust of 490 N (110 lb_f).[6] It included enough propellant for orbit circularization and 10 years of operation.[6]

Its payload is composed of 14 K_u band plus 30 K_a band transponders.[4]

History

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 on October 1990.[8]

On December 1, 1992 at 22:37:18 UTC Superbird-A1, was launched aboard an Ariane 42P.[6] It was injected into a 192 km × 35,990 km × 7° geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it climbed through three liquid apogee engine firings.[1] It was positioned in its 158°East longitude position where it was integrated to the Superbird-A communication network.[6][11][12]

References

1. "Superbird A1". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
2. "Superbird A1". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
3. "SUPERBIRD A1". n2yo.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
4. "Superbird A1". Satbeams. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
5. "Superbird-1, -2". SSL. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
6. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-08-19). "Superbird A, A1, B, B1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
7. "Industry Pioneer Marks Milestone, Continues to Lead in Providing High-Power Commercial Satellites, Helping Operators Meet Business Objectives". SSL. July 17, 2007. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
8. "Awards & Launch History - 1300 Bus Satellites". SSL. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
9. "Celebrating Fifty Years of Satellite Innovation". SSL. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
10. "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
11. "Superbird". Global Security. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
12. Wade, Mark. "Ariane 42P". Encyclopaedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2016-08-19.