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Superbird-A1, also identified as Superbird-1A before launch, was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace (now Space Systems/Loral) on the SSL 1300 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group.[5] It had a mixed Ku-band and Ka-band payload and operated on the 158° East longitude.[1][6]

Superbird-A1

Names	Superbird-1A
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Space Systems/Loral
COSPAR ID	1992-084A [1]
SATCAT no.	22253
Mission duration	10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Superbird-A1
Spacecraft type	Superbird
Bus	SSL 1300
Manufacturer	Ford Aerospace
Launch mass	2,780 kg (6,130 lb)
Dimensions	Stowed: 2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in) Solar panels extended: 20.3 m (67 ft)
Power	4 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	1 December 1992, 22:48:00 UTC[2]
Rocket	Ariane-42P H10+
Launch site	Cebtre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[3]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	158° East
Transponders
Band	14 Ku-band 30 Ka-band[4]
Coverage area	Japan
Superbird constellation ← Superbird-B1 Superbird-C →

It was ordered in 1985 along Superbird-B, Superbird-A1 and Superbird-B1 on the very first order of the SSL 1300 platform.[6][7][8][9]

Satellite description

The spacecraft was the fourth satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace on the SSL 1300 satellite bus. It was based on the design of the Intelsat V series and offered a three-axis stabilized platform.[6][7][8][9]

It had a launch mass of 2,780 kg (6,130 lb) and a 10-year design life.[1][4] When stowed for launch, its dimensions were 2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in). With its solar panels fully extended it spanned 20.3 m (67 ft). Its power system generated approximately 4 kW of power due to two wings with three solar panels each.[1][6] It also a NiH₂ battery to survive the solar eclipses. It would serve as the main satellite on the 158°E longitude position of the Superbird.[1][6]

Its propulsion system included an R-4D-11 liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 490 N (110 lb_f).[6] It included enough propellant for orbit circularization and 10 years of operation.[6]

Its payload is composed of 14 Ku-band plus 30 Ka-band transponders.[4]

History

Space Communications Corporation (SCC) was founded in 1985, the same year as the original companies that later formed JSAT.[10] On 1986 SCC ordered four spacecraft, Superbird-1, Superbird-2, Superbird-A1 and Superbird-B1 from Ford Aerospace, which became Space Systems/Loral in October 1990.[8]

On 1 December 1992 at 22:48:00 UTC Superbird-A1, was launched aboard an Ariane 42P.[6] It was injected into a 192 km × 35,990 km × 7° geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from which it climbed through three liquid apogee engine (LEA) firings.[1] It was positioned in its 158° East longitude position where it was integrated to the Superbird communication network.[6][11][12]

References

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