Mission type Communication COSPAR ID 1999-006A Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-36A Launch mass 2,900 kg Rocket Atlas II Manufacturer Hughes Aircraft Company | Operator SKY Perfect JSAT Group Mission duration 14 ⁄2 years (planned) Launch mass 2,900 kg Launch date 16 February 1999 Bus Boeing 601 | |
Names JCSAT-6 (order to Feb 1999)
JCSAT-4A (Feb 1999 onward) Similar JCSAT‑2A, JCSAT‑5A, N‑SAT‑110, Superbird‑C2, JCSAT‑RA | ||
JCSAT-4A, previously designated JCSAT-6, is a Japanese geostationary communications satellite which is operated by JSAT Corporation (now SKY Perfect JSAT Group). It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 124° East, from where it is used to provide broadcasting and corporate network communications to Japan.
JCSAT-6 was constructed by Hughes, based on the HS-601 satellite bus. It is equipped with 32 J band (IEEE Ku band) transponders, and at launch it had a mass of 2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of fourteen and a half years
It was launched atop an Atlas IIAS carrier rocket flying from Space Launch Complex 36A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 01:45:26 GMT on 16 February 1999, and successfully placed JCSAT-6 into a geostationary transfer orbit. From this orbit, the satellite raised itself into a geostationary orbit using an R-4D apogee motor. The final burn to complete its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 1 March 1999.