N-STAR a
Mission type | Communications |
---|---|
Operator | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
COSPAR ID | 1995-044A [1] |
SATCAT no. | 23651 |
Mission duration | 10 years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | N-STAR a |
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 | 29 August 1995, 06:41:00 UTC[1] |
Rocket | Ariane 44P H10-3 |
Launch site | Kourou, ELA-2 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[3] |
Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Transponders | |
Band | 6 C-band 11 Ka-band 8 Ku-band 1 S-band[4] |
Coverage area | Japan |
N-Star |
N-STAR a, 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 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, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), NTT Communications and NTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter two WIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service.[5] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.[6][7]
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.[8][9] They would be "switchboards in the sky" having S-band, C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band payload.[10]
N-STAR a was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44P on 29 August 1995. Its twin, N-STAR b, launched on 5 February 1996, also aboard an Ariane 44P.[2][10] The satellite telephone service was operational in March 1996. In March 2000, the packet communications service was introduced.[11] In March 2000, JSAT received the NTT Communications interest in the N-STAR a and N-STAR b.[12][13]
In August 2003, the JSAT acquired the NTT DoCoMo interest on N-STAR a and N-STAR b, whom then leased them back.[14][15]
See also[]
- JCSAT-5A – Also known as N-STAR d, was the follow on satellite.
References[]
- ^ a b "N-STAR-A". NASA. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter (19 August 2016). "N-Star a, b". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "NSTAR A". N2YO.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "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 20 August 2016. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "N-Star". Global Security. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Awards & Launch History - 1300 Bus Satellites". SSL (company). Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ a b "N-Star a and b". SSL (company). Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ 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?". SKY Perfect JSAT. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "NTT DoCoMo to Transfer Satellite Assets to JSAT and Acquire JSAT Common Stock". NTT DoCoMo. 31 July 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
- ^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
External links[]
- Communications satellites in geostationary orbit
- Satellites using the SSL 1300 bus
- Spacecraft launched in 1995
- Communications satellites of Japan
- Satellites of Japan