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 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 | Communication |
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Operator | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
COSPAR ID | 1996-007A [1] |
SATCAT no. | 23781 |
Mission duration | 10 years (planned) |
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 | 5 February 1996, 07:19:38 UTC[1] |
Rocket | Ariane 44P H10-3 |
Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Transponders | |
Band | 6 C-band 11 Ka-band 8 Ku-band 1 S-band[3] |
Coverage area | Japan |
N-Star constellation |
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.[4] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.[5][6]
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.[7][8] They would be "switchboards in the sky" having S-band, C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band payload.[9]
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][9] The satellite telephone service was operational in March 1996. In March 2000, the packet communications service was introduced.[10] In March 2000, JSAT received the NTT Communications interest in the N-STAR a and N-STAR b.[11][12]
In August 2003, the JSAT acquired the NTT DoCoMo interest on N-STAR a and N-STAR b, whom then leased them back.[13][14]
← 1995 · Orbital launches in 1996 · 1997 → | |
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STS-72 (SPARTAN-206) | PAS-3R · MEASAT-1 | Koreasat 2 | Kosmos 2327 | Gorizont #43L | Palapa C1 | N-STAR b | Intelsat 708 | NEAR Shoemaker | Kosmos 2328 · Kosmos 2329 · Kosmos 2330 · Gonets-D1 #1 · Gonets-D1 #2 · Gonets-D1 #3 | Gran' #44L | Soyuz TM-23 | STS-75 (TSS-1R) | Polar | REX II | Intelsat 707 | Kosmos 2331 | IRS-P3 | STS-76 | USA-117 | Inmarsat-3 F1 | Astra 1F | MSAT-1 | Priroda | MSX | Kosmos 2332 | USA-118 | BeppoSAX | Progress M-31 | USA-119 · USA-120 · USA-121 · USA-122 · USA-123 · USA-124 | Kometa #18 | Palapa C2 · Amos-1 | MSTI-3 | STS-77 (SPARTAN-207 · IAE · PAMS-STU) | Galaxy 9 | Gorizont #44L | Cluster F1 · Cluster F2 · Cluster F3 · Cluster F4 | Intelsat 709 | STS-78 | Kobal't | TOMS-EP | USA-125 | Apstar 1A | Arabsat 2A · Türksat 1C | USA-126 | USA-127 | Progress M-32 | Télécom 2D · Italsat 2 | Molniya 1-79 | Midori · Fuji 2 | Soyuz TM-24 | Chinasat-7 | FAST | Interbol 2 · Maigon 5 · Victor | Kosmos 2333 | Kosmos 2334 · UNAMSAT-2 | Inmarsat-3 F2 | GE-1 | EchoStar II | USA-128 | STS-79 | Ekspress-6 | FSW-17 | Molniya 3-62 | HETE · SAC-B | Mars Global Surveyor | Arabsat 2B · MEASAT-2 | Mars 96 | STS-80 (WSF · ORFEUS-SPAS) | Progress M-33 | Hot Bird 2 | Mars Pathfinder (Sojourner) | Kosmos 2335 | Inmarsat-3 F3 | Kosmos 2336 | USA-129 | Bion No.11 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |