| Mission type | Mobile communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
| COSPAR ID | 2002-035B[1] |
| SATCATno. | 27461 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | N-STAR c |
| Bus | GEOStar-2 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin /Orbital Sciences Corporation |
| Launch mass | 1,645 kg (3,627 lb) |
| Dimensions | 3.3 m × 1.9 m × 1.5 m (10.8 ft × 6.2 ft × 4.9 ft) (stowed) |
| Power | 2.6kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 July 2002, 23:22:00UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Ariane 5G (V153) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais,ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | August 2002 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 136° East[3] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 1C-band 20S-band[4] |
| Coverage area | Japan |
N-STAR c, is ageostationarycommunications satellite originally ordered byNTT DoCoMo and later fully acquired bySKY Perfect JSAT Group.[5][6] It was designed and manufactured byLockheed Martin, which acted as prime, developed the payload and did the final integration and testing, andOrbital Sciences Corporation, which supplied thesatellite bus on theGEOStar-2 platform and procured the launch services.[4] It had a launch weight of approximately 1,645 kg (3,627 lb), and a 15-year design life.[4][7] Its payload is composed of 1C-band, and 20S-bandtransponders and its stationed in the 136° East longitude.[8][9]
N-STAR c is a3 axis stabilizedgeostationarycommunications satellite based on theGEOStar-2satellite bus. While its payload was developed byLockheed Martin, who also did final integration, the satellite bus was supplied byOrbital Sciences Corporation (now Lockheed Martin). N-STAR c was the first order for the GEOStar-2 (then called STAR-2) platform, and Orbital Sciences supplied it fully integrated and tested to Lockheed Martin.[10]
It weighed 1,645 kg (3,627 lb) at launch, and while the design life was of 15 years.[7] Stowed for launch it measured 3.3 m × 1.9 m × 1.5 m (10.8 ft × 6.2 ft × 4.9 ft).[11] It had a power availability dedicated to the payload of 1.4 kW, thanks to itsmulti-junctionGaAssolar cells that produced 2.6 kW at the beginning of its operative life and spanned 12.6 m (41 ft) when deployed.[11][7] The satellite used abipropellant propulsion system fororbit circularization,station keeping andattitude control, with enough propellant for 15 years.[7]
Its payload was designed and manufactured by Lokheed Martin. It is composed of an unfurlable 5.1 m (17 ft) antenna fed by 20S-band and 1C-bandtransponders. With the S-band part supplying end user mobile communication services and the C-band acting as the feeder channel. The S-band transponders have a solid-state amplifiers power of 288watts. It is arranged in three groups of four plus one spare amplifiers of 24 watts each.[7] The transponders work on the 2.5 GHz to 2.6 GHz frequency.[12] The C-band transponder is powered by one plus one spare 13 watts solid state amplifier and works on the 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency band.[7][12][13]
N-Star was created as a joint venture betweenJSAT Corporation,Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT),NTT Communications andNTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter twoWIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service.[14] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.[15][16]
In October 1999, N-STAR c was ordered by NTT DoCoMo fromLockheed Martin andOrbital Sciences Corporation.[10] Orbital Sciences would supply the spacecraft and procure launch services and Lockheed Martin would deliver the payload an act a main contractor.[4] It was the first satellite ordered to use theGEOStar-2 satellite bus from Orbital Sciences.[10]
On 5 July 2002 at 23:22:00UTC andAriane 5G successfully launched N-STAR c alongStellat 5.[1] On 12 September 2002, Orbital Sciences announced the successful on-orbit delivery of N-STAR c to its client, NTT DoCoMo, during late August 2002.[17]
During 2010, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation acquires N-STAR c, completing the transfer of NTT orbital assets and management to JSAT.[6] The same year theWIDESTAR II service was enabled for all of Japan, using N-STAR c andJCSAT-5A, also known asN-STAR d.[13]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.