| Names | JCSAT-4 (1995–1997) JCSAT-R (1997–2009) Intelsat 26 (2009–present) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | JSAT /Intelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 1997-007A[1] |
| SATCATno. | 24732[2] |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | JCSAT-4 |
| Spacecraft type | JCSAT |
| Bus | HS-601 |
| Manufacturer | Hughes |
| Launch mass | 3,105 kg (6,845 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,841 kg (4,059 lb) |
| Dimensions | 26.2 m × 7.5 m (86 ft × 25 ft) withsolar panels and antennas deployed |
| Power | 5kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 February 1997, 01:42:02UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Atlas IIAS |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral,LC-36B |
| Contractor | International Launch Services (ILS) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[3] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 124° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | Ku-band: 12 × 36Mhz + 16 × 27 MHz C-band: 12 x 36 MHz |
| Bandwidth | 1296 MHz |
| Coverage area | Japan,East Asia,South Asia, Australia, New Zealand,Hawaii |
| TWTA power | Ku-band: 4 × 36 MHz 95 watts 8 × 36 MHz 63 watts 16 × 27 MHz 63 watts C-band: 12 x 36 MHz 34 watts |
JCSAT-4 was known asJCSAT-R until it was sold toIntelsat in 2009 (Intelsat 26). It is ageostationarycommunications satellite designed and manufactured byHughes (nowBoeing) on theHS-601satellite bus. It was originally ordered byJSAT Corporation, which later merged into theSKY Perfect JSAT Group. It has a mixedKu-band andC-band payload and was used as an on orbit spare.[4][2]
The spacecraft was designed and manufactured byHughes on theHS-601satellite 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).[4] Its power system generated approximately 5kW of power due to two wings with foursolar panels each.[5][4] It also had a singleNiH2 battery composed of 30cells and a 200Ah charge.[4] It would serve as on orbit backup for theJSAT fleet.[4]
Its propulsion system was composed of anR-4D-11-300liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 490 N (110 lbf). It also used had 12 22 N (4.9 lbf)bipropellantthrusters forstation keeping andattitude control. It included enough propellant fororbit circularization and 12 years of operation.[4] Its payload is composed of four octagonal antenna fed by twelve 36MHz and sixteen 27 MHz Ku-band plus twelve 27 MHz C-bandtransponders for a total bandwidth of 1296 MHz.[5][4] Eight of the 36 MHz and the sixteen 27 MHz Ku-band transponders have aTWTA output power of 63 watts, the other four 36 MHz ones have 95 watts. It can configure four 27 MHz transponders into a single 54 MHz with an effective 125 watts.[4] The twelve C-band transponders have 36 MHz bandwidth and 34 watts of power.[4]
In December 1995,JSAT ordered its fourth satellite fromHughes, and second of theHS-601 platform, theJCSAT-4. It was an almost copy of theJCSAT-3, also based on the HS-601, but with more powerful transponders. It would have a mixed Ku-band and C-band payload, a power generation capability of 5000 watts and a 12 year of design life. It was expected to be delivered by early 1997 and be positioned at the 124° Eastlongitude. It would provide telecommunications and television services to Japan, all ofAsia,Hawaii and Australia and New Zealand.[4][6]
On 25 March 1996,International Launch Services (ILS) announced a contract with JSAT for the launch of JCSAT-4 aboard an Atlas IIAS. At the time it was expected to launch in January 1997 from Cape Canaveral at LC-36A launch pad. This was the second contract of ILS with JSAT after the successful launch ofJCSAT-3 in August 1995.[7]
On 18 February 1997 at 01:42:02UTC, andAtlas IIAS launched from Cape CanaveralLC-36B with JCSAT-4 towards ageosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).[8] After the successful launch, it was renamedJCSAT-R. During its tenure as JCSAT-R it operated on the 124° Eastlongitude.[4] In August, 2008, JSAT was merged into theSKY Perfect JSAT Group.[9]
In late 2009,Intelsat bought JCSAT-R and rechristened itIntelsat 26.[10][4] In March 2010, Intelsat announced an agreement withTürksat for loaning Intelsat 26 so the latter could keep its orbital rights until a new satellite could be launched.[10] In July 2010, it was positioned at the 50° East longitude with a 3.4°inclination.[11] In January 2013, the inclination had increased to 4.6°.[12] In August 2016, the satellite was positioned at 64.1° East with a 6.97° inclination.[13][3]
