Mission type | Communication |
---|---|
Operator | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
COSPAR ID | 1996-007A[1] |
SATCAT no. | 23781 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | N-STAR b |
Bus | SSL 1300 |
Manufacturer | Space Systems/Loral |
Launch mass | 3,400 kg (7,500 lb)[2] |
BOL mass | 2,050 kg (4,520 lb) |
Dry mass | 1,617 kg (3,565 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 07:19:38, February 5, 1996 (UTC)[3] |
Rocket | Ariane 44P |
Launch site | Kourou ELA-2 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Inclined geosynchronous |
Semi-major axis | 42,451 km |
Perigee altitude | 36,037.74 km |
Apogee altitude | 36,123.3 km |
Inclination | 7.9° |
Period | 1,450.8 minutes |
Epoch | 2016-08-21 00:00:00 UTC[4] |
Transponders | |
Band | C band: 6 Ka band: 11 Ku band: 8 S band: 1[5] |
N-STAR b, was a geostationary communications satellite originally ordered by a consortium including NTT DoCoMo and JSAT Corporation, and later fully acquired by JSAT, which was merged into SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It was designed and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral on the SSL 1300 platform.[2] It had a launch weight of approximately 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), and a 10-year design life.[2] Its payload is composed of 6 C band, 11 Ka band, 8 Ku band and 1 S band transponders.
History
N-Star was created as a joint venture between JSAT, NTT, NTT Communications and NTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter two WIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service.[6] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.[7][8]
Two identical satellites were ordered on 1992 from Space Systems Loral, N-STAR a and N-STAR b, for 1995 and 1996 on orbit delivery.[9][10] They would be "switchboards in the sky" having S band, C band, Ka band and Ku band payload.[11]
N-STAR a was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44P on August 29, 1995. Its twin, N-STAR b, launched on February 5, 1996, also aboard an Ariane 44P.[2][11] The satellite telephone service was operational in March 1996. On March 2000, the packet communications service was introduced.[12] On March 2000, JSAT received the NTT Communications interest in the N-STAR a and N-STAR b.[13][14]
On August 2003 the JSAT acquired the NTT DoCoMo interest on N-STAR a and N-STAR b, whom then leased them back.[15][16]
See also
- JCSAT-5A – Also known as N-STAR d, was the follow on satellite.
References
- ^ "N-STAR-B". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-08-19). "N-Star a, b". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "N-STAR-B". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- ^ "NSTAR B". n2yo.com. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
- ^ "Communications in Japan 1999" (PDF). General Planning and Policy Division, Minister’s Secretariat (Whitepaper). Communications in Japan (1999 ed.). Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japan. 1999: 132. Retrieved 2016-08-20. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. February 8, 2002. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. July 10, 2002. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. July 3, 2003. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "N-Star". Global Security. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "Awards & Launch History - 1300 Bus Satellites". SSL. Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ^ a b "N-Star a and b". SSL. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
- ^ Yamamoto, Kazuichi; Furukawa, Makoto; Satoh, Hijin; Nishi, Yasuki; Kouji, Horikawa (September 2010). "Overview of WIDESTAR II Mobile Satellite Communications System and Service" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo Technical Journal. NTT DoCoMo. 12 (2): 37–42. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Who we are" (PDF). SKY Perfect JSAT Group. 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- ^ "NTT DoCoMo to Transfer Satellite Assets to JSAT and Acquire JSAT Common Stock". NTT DoCoMo. July 31, 2003. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. June 28, 2004. Retrieved 2016-08-02.