JCSAT-3A, known as JCSAT-10 before launch, is a

geostationary 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 ...

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 ...

operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...

on the

A2100 The A2100 is a model of communications satellite spacecraft made by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. It is used as the foundation for telecommunications payloads in geosynchronous orbit, as well as GOES-R weather satellites and GPS Block IIIA satell ...

platform.

Satellite description

The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by

on the A2100AX

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- ...

. It had a launch mass of and a 15-year design life. It would provide communications services throughout Japan and Asia. As most satellites based on the A2100 platform, it uses a LEROS-1C LAE for orbit raising. Its solar panels span when fully deployed and, with its antennas in fully extended configuration it is wide. Its payload is composed of eighteen 27 MHz and twelve 36 MHz K_u band plus twelve C band

transponders In telecommunications, a transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend of ''transmitter'' and ''responder''. In air navigation or radio frequency identification, a flight tra ...

, for a total bandwidth of 1,350 MHz. Its high-power amplifiers had an output power of 127

Watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James ...

s on K_u band and　48 Watts on C band.

History

On April 20, 2004, JSAT ordered a satellite from

, JCSAT-10. Based on the A2100AX platform, it would have a C band and K_u band payload and was expected to occupy the 128°East slot after its planned 2006 launch. On August 11, 2006, an

Ariane 5 ECA Ariane 5 is a European heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It is launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in French Guiana. It has been used to deliver payloads into ...

launched JCSAT-10 along Syracuse-3B into a transfer orbit. Upon successful deployment at 128°East longitude, it was renamed JCSAT-3A.

References

{{Orbital launches in 2006 Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Satellites using the A2100 bus Spacecraft launched in 2006 Communications satellites of Japan Satellites of Japan