| Names | Superbird-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | Space Communications Corporation |
| COSPAR ID | 1989-041A[1] |
| SATCATno. | 20040 |
| Mission duration | 10 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Superbird-A |
| Spacecraft type | Superbird |
| Bus | SSL 1300 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 2,489 kg (5,487 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 panels extended: 20.3 m (67 ft) |
| Power | 4kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 June 1989, 22:37:18UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Ariane-44L H10 |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais,ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[3] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 158° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 23Ku-band 3Ka-band 2X-band |
| Coverage area | Japan |
Superbird-A, also identified asSuperbird-1 before launch, was ageostationarycommunications satellite designed and manufactured byFord Aerospace) on theSSL 1300 satellite bus. It was originally ordered bySpace Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into theSKY Perfect JSAT Group.[4] It had a mixedKu-band,Ka-band andX-band payload and operated on the 158° East longitude.[5][1]
It was ordered in 1985 alongSuperbird-B,Superbird-A1 andSuperbird-B1 on the first order of the SSL 1300 platform.[6][7][8][5] It was also the first satellite of SCC and the second commercial satellite of Japan afterJCSAT-1.[5] It was used for video distribution, news gathering, remote publishing and high definition TV service to the main islands of Japan andOkinawa.[1]
The spacecraft was the first satellite designed and manufactured byFord Aerospace on theSSL 1300satellite bus. It was based on the design of theIntelsat V series and offered athree-axis stabilized platform.[6][7][8][5]
It had a launch mass of 2,489 kg (5,487 lb) and a 10-year design life.[1] 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 itssolar panels fully extended it spanned 20.3 m (67 ft). Its power system generated approximately 3,984watts of power due to two wings with three solar panels each.[5][1] It also aNiH2 battery to survive the solar eclipses. It would serve as the main satellite on the 158° East longitude position of theSuperbird.[5][1]
Its propulsion system included anR-4D-11liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 490 N (110 lbf).[5] It included enough propellant fororbit circularization and 10 years of operation.[5]
Its payload is composed of 23Ku-band, 3Ka-band, plus 2X-bandtransponders.[5]
Space Communications Corporation (SCC) was founded in 1985, the same year as the original companies that later formed JSAT.[9] In 1986, SCC ordered four spacecraft fromFord Aerospace,Superbird-1,Superbird-2,Superbird-A1 andSuperbird-B1.[7]
On 5 June 1989 at 22:37:18UTC, Superbird-1, the second private communications satellite of Japan, was launched aboard anAriane 44L alongDFS Kopernikus-1.[5] It was injected into a 185 km x 35,981 kmgeosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from which it climbed through three liquid apogee engine (LAE) firings.[1] Once in its 158° East longitude position, it was rechristened asSuperbird-A.[5][7][9]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.