Operator SKY Perfect JSAT Group SATCAT no. 27461 Power 2.6 kW Launch mass 1,625 kg Bus GEOStar-2 | COSPAR ID 2002-035B Spacecraft N-STAR c Launch date 5 July 2002 Launch mass 1,625 kg Mission type Communications satellite | |
Dimensions 3.3 m × 1.9 m × 1.5 m (10.8 ft × 6.2 ft × 4.9 ft) Manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK Similar TDRS‑9, TDRS‑10, JCSAT‑5A, JCSAT‑2A, Superbird‑C2 | ||
N-STAR c, is a geostationary communications satellite originally ordered by NTT DoCoMo and later fully acquired by SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which acted as prime, developed the payload and did the final integration and testing, and Orbital Sciences Corporation, which supplied the satellite bus on the GEOStar-2 platform and procured the launch services. It had a launch weight of approximately 1,625 kg (3,583 lb), and a 10-year design life. Its payload is composed of 1 C band, and 20 S band transponders and its stationed in the 136°East longitude.
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Satellite description
N-STAR c is a 3 axis stabilized geostationary communications satellite based on the GEOStar-2 satellite bus. While its payload was developed by Lockheed Martin, who also did final integration, the satellite bus was supplied by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Orbital ATK). N-STAR c was the first order for the GEOStar-2 (then called STAR-2) platform, and Orbital supplied it fully integrated and tested to LM.
It weighted 1,625 kg (3,583 lb) at launch, and while the design life was of 10 years. Stowed for launch it measured 3.3 m × 1.9 m × 1.5 m (10.8 ft × 6.2 ft × 4.9 ft). It had a power availability dedicated to the payload of 1.4 kW, thanks to its Multi-junction GaAs solar cells that produced 2.6 kW at the beginning of its operative life and spanned 12.6 m (41 ft) when deployed. The satellite used a bipropellant propulsion system for orbit circularization, station keeping and attitude control, with enough propellant for 12 years.
Its payload was designed and manufactured by Lokheed Martin. It is composed of an unfurlable 5.1 m (17 ft) antenna fed by 20 S band and 1 C band transponders. With the S band part supplying end user mobile communication services and the C band acting as the feeder channel. The S band transponders have a solid-state amplifiers power of 288 Watts. It is arranged in three groups of four plus one spare amplifiers of 24 Watts each. The transponders work on the 2.5 GHz to 2.6 GHz frequency. The C band transponder is powered by one plus one spare 13 Watt solid state amplifier and works on the 4 GHz and 6 GHz frequency band.
History
N-Star was created as a joint venture between JSAT, NTT, NTT Communications and NTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter two WIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service. JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.
On October 1999, N-STAR c was ordered by NTT DoCoMo from Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences Corporation. Orbital would supply the spacecraft and procure launch services and Lockheed would deliver the payload an act a main contractor. It was the first satellite ordered to use the GEOStar-2 satellite bus from Orbital.
On July 5, 2002 at 23:22:00 UTC and Ariane 5G successfully launched N-STAR c along Stellat 5. On September 12, 2002, Orbital announced the successful on-orbit delivery of N-STAR c to its client, NTT DoCoMo, during late August.
During 2010, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation acquires N-STAR c, completing the transfer of NTT orbital assets and management to JSAT. The same year the WIDESTAR II service was enabled for all of Japan, using N-STAR c and JCSAT-5A, also known as N-STAR d.