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.
Mission type | Communications |
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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 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]
← 1994 · Orbital launches in 1995 · 1996 → | |
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Cubesats are smaller. Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses). |