JCSAT-4A, designated JCSAT-6 before launch, is a Japanese geostationary
communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. C ...
which is operated by
JSAT Corporation
JSAT Corporation (JSAT) was the first private Japanese satellite operator, which owned the JSAT satellites, as well as operated and partially owned the N-Star with NTT DoCoMo. Its origins can be traced to the funding of Japan Communications S ...
(now
SKY Perfect JSAT Group
The SKY Perfect JSAT Group is a Japanese corporate group that claims to be Asia's largest satellite communication and multi-channel pay TV company. It owns the SKY PerfecTV! satellite broadcasting service and the SKY Perfect Well Think content s ...
). It is positioned in
geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit in altitud ...
at a
longitude
Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east–west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek letter l ...
of 124° East, from where it is used to provide broadcasting and corporate network communications to Japan.
Spacecraft description
JCSAT-6 was constructed by Hughes, based on the
HS-601
The Boeing 601 (sometimes referred to as the BSS-601, and previously as the HS-601) is a communications satellite bus designed in 1985 and introduced in 1987 by Hughes Space and Communications Company. The series was extremely popular in the 199 ...
satellite bus
A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.
Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus-d ...
. It is equipped with 32
Ku-band
The Ku band () is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies from 12 to 18 gigahertz (GHz). The symbol is short for "K-under" (originally german: Kurz-unten), because it is the lower part of the ori ...
transponder
In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend word, blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''.
In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a T ...
s, and at launch it had a mass of , with an expected operational lifespan of fourteen and a half years.
Launch
It was launched atop an
Atlas IIAS
Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. The Atlas II was a direct evolution of the Atlas I, featuring longer first stage tanks, higher-performing engines ...
launch vehicle
A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pad, launch pads, supported by a missile launch contro ...
flying from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36, Launch Complex 36A at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 01:45:26 Coordinated Universal Time, UTC on 16 February 1999,
and successfully placed JCSAT-6 into a geostationary transfer orbit. From this orbit, the satellite raised itself into a geostationary orbit using an R-4D Apogee kick motor, apogee motor.
The final burn to complete its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 1 March 1999.
See also
* 1999 in spaceflight
References
Spacecraft launched in 1999
Satellites using the BSS-601 bus
Communications satellites of Japan
Satellites of Japan
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