JCSAT-1B

JCSAT-5 → JCSAT-1B

Names	JCSAT-5 (Jun 1996 to Dec 1997) JCSAT-1B (Dec 1997 onward)
Mission type	Communication
Operator	SKY Perfect JSAT Group
COSPAR ID	1997-075A
SATCAT no.	25067
Website	http://www.jsat.net/en/contour/jcsat-1b.html
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	JCSAT-5
Bus	HS-601
Manufacturer	Hughes
Launch mass	2,982 kg (6,574 lb)
Dry mass	1,308 kg (2,884 lb)
Dimensions	26.1 m × 7.6 m (86 ft × 25 ft) with solar panels and antennas deployed.
Power	5 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	22:52:32, December 2, 1997 (1997-12-02T22:52:32)
Rocket	Ariane 44P
Launch site	GSC ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Regime	GEO
Longitude	150°East
Transponders
Band	Ku band: 16 × 36 Mhz + 16 × 27 Mhz
Bandwidth	1,008 MHz
TWTA power	12 × 36 Mhz 95 Watts 4 × 36 Mhz 60 Watts 16 × 27 Mhz 60Watts
JSAT

JCSAT-1B, known as JCSAT-5 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Hughes (now Boeing) on the HS-601 platform. It has a pure K_u band payload and was used to replace JCSAT-1 at the 150°East longitude. It covers Japan, Korea, most of China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, part of Indonesia, part of Malaysia and Hawaii.

Satellite description

TThe spacecraft was designed and manufactured by Boeing on the BSS-601 satellite bus. It had a launch mass of 2,982 kg (6,574 lb) and a 12 year design life. Its solar panels span 21 m (69 ft) when fully deployed and generated aproximately 5 kW of power, with its antennas in fully extended configuration it is 7.6 m (25 ft) wide. It would provide communications services throughout Japan, East Asia, Australia and Hawaii.

Its payload is composed of sixteen 36 Mhz plus another sixteen 27 Mhz K_u band transponders, for a total bandwidth of 1,008 MHz. Its twelve of the 36 Mhz transponders have a TWTA output power of 95 Watts, the other four 36 Mhz and the 27 Mhz ones have 60 Watts. It can configure four 36 MHz transponders into two 76 MHz with an effective 95 Watts.

The K_u band footprint covers Japan, Korea, most of China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, part of Indonesia, part of Malaysia and Hawaii.

History

On June 1996, JSAT (since then merged into SKY Perfect JSAT Group) ordered JCSAT-5 from Hughes (now Boeing), to replace JCSAT-1 at the 150° East slot. The HS-601 based satellite would provide coverage to Japan, East Asia, Australia and Hawaii.

An Ariane 44P successfully launched JCSAT-5 on December 2, 1997 at 22:52:32 UTC from Guiana Space Centre ELA-2 launch pad. Once successfully deployed, it was renamed as JCSAT-1B. It was driven to the 150°East position where it replaced JCSAT-1.

The satellite experienced an anomaly on January 17, 2007 on one of its thrusters. But after the operator designed a control scheme to handle the satellite without the failed thruster, it was put back into service.