Names JCSAT-14 SATCAT no. 41471 Launch mass 4,696.2 kg (10,353 lb) Launch date 4 May 2016 Manufacturer SSL Mission type Communications satellite | COSPAR ID JCSAT-14 Spacecraft JCSAT-14 Dry mass 2,194.2 kg (4,837 lb) Rocket Falcon 9 Full Thrust Bus SSL 1300 Operator SKY Perfect JSAT Group | |
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Similar Thaicom 8, Red Dragon, Amos‑6, JCSAT‑RA, Dragon V2 | ||
JCSAT-2B, known as JCSAT-14 before commissioning, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. It had a launch weight of 4,696.2 kg (10,353 lb), a power production capacity of 9 to 9.9 kW at end of life and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of 26 C band and 18 Ku band transponders with a total bandwidth of 2,853 MHz.
SKY Perfect JSAT Group will use JCSAT-2B as a replacement for JCSAT-2A to provide communications services to Japan, Asia, Russia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands.
History
On June 11, 2013, SSL announced that it had been awarded a contract by SKY Perfect JSAT Group to manufacture JCSAT-14. It would be a 10 kW satellite with 26 C band and 18 Ku band transponders with a 15 years of expected life. It was scheduled for launch in 2015.
On January 10, 2014, JSAT announced that it had signed a launch service contract with SpaceX for the launch of JCSAT-14 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The expected launch date was the second half of 2015. But the failure of Falcon 9 Flight 19 meant a delay of at least six months on the launch.
On March 14, 2016 SSL delivered JCSAT-14 to the launch site, in Cape Canaveral for launch processing and integration.
On May 5, 2016, at 05:21 UTC, the Falcon 9 successfully launched JSCAT-14 to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The rocket's first stage subsequently landed on an autonomous spaceport drone ship. The next day, SSL announced that the satellite had deployed the solar arrays, was in full control and was performing orbital maneuvers to reach its operational position.
As of July 2016, the now rechristened JCSAT-2B is commissioned and operational at the 154°East orbital slot.