Superbird-C, also known as Superbird-3 [5] or Superbird-A3,[2] was a geostationary communications satellite ordered and operated by Space Communications Corporation (SCC) that was designed and manufactured by Hughes Space and Communications Company (now Boeing Satellite Systems) on the HS-601 satellite bus. It has a pure Ku-band payload and was used to fill the position at 144° East longitude. It provided television signals and business communications services throughout Japan, South Asia, East Asia, and Hawaii.[2][6][7]
| Names | Superbird-3 Superbird-A3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
| COSPAR ID | 1997-036A [1] |
| SATCAT no. | 24880 [2] |
| Mission duration | 13 years (planned) 18 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Superbird-3 |
| Spacecraft type | Superbird |
| Bus | BBS-601 |
| Manufacturer | Hughes |
| Launch mass | 3,130 kg (6,900 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,416 kg (3,122 lb) |
| Dimensions | 26.2 m × 7.5 m × 4.9 m (86 ft × 25 ft × 16 ft) with solar panels and antennas deployed. |
| Power | 4.5 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 July 1997, 01:15:01 UTC[1][3] |
| Rocket | Atlas IIAS (s/n AC-133) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-36B |
| Contractor | International Launch Services (ILS) |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | 2015 |
| Last contact | 2015 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[4] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 144° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 4 Ku-band × 54 Mhz 4 × 36 MHz and 16 × 27 MHz |
| Coverage area | Japan, South Asia, East Asia, Hawaii |
| TWTA power | 90 watts |
Satellite description edit
The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by then Hughes Space and Communications Company (now Boeing Satellite Development Center) on the HS-601 satellite bus. It had a launch mass of 3,150 kg (6,940 lb), a dry mass of 1,416 kg (3,122 lb) and a 13-year design life. When stowed for launch, it measured 4 m × 3.8 m × 2.4 m (13.1 ft × 12.5 ft × 7.9 ft). It had two wings with four solar panels each, that generated 4.5 kW at the end of its design life. When fully deployed, the solar panels spanned 26.2 m (86 ft), with its antennas in fully extended configuration it was 7.5 m (25 ft) wide.[6][7] It had a 29-cell NiH2 battery with a power charge of 200 Ah.[7]
Its propulsion system was composed of an R-4D-11-300 liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 490 N (110 lbf). It also used had 12 22 N (4.9 lbf) bipropellant thrusters for station keeping and attitude control. It included enough propellant for orbit circularization and 13 years of operation.[7]
Its payload is composed of two 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) dual-gridded reflectors and twenty four Ku-band transponders powered by a traveling-wave-tube amplifier (TWTA) with and output power of 90 watts. It can configure two 54 MHz transponders into one 114 MHz with an effective 180 watts.[6][7]
The Ku-band footprint covered Japan, southern and eastern Asia, and Hawaii.[7]
History edit
Space Communications Corporation (SCC) was founded in 1985, the same year as the original companies that later formed JSAT.[8] SCC switched satellite suppliers and on 1995 ordered a satellite from Boeing, Superbird-C.[6]
On 28 July 1997 at 01:15:01 UTC, Superbird-C was put into orbit by an Atlas IIAS launched from Cape Canaveral LC-36B.[6]
Superbird-C was replaced by Superbird-C2 during 2008, in 2015 it was decommissioned.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b "Display: Superbird-C 1997-036A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Subperbird 3". SATBEAMS. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Trajectory: Superbird-C 1997-036A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "SUPERBIRD C". N2YO.com. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Superbird-3" (PDF). JSAT. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Krebs, Gunter (11 December 2017). "Superbird C". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Superbird C". Boeing. Archived from the original on 30 December 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "History". SKY Perfect JSAT. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Superbird". Global Security. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
