N-STAR b

N-STAR b
Mission type	Communication
Operator	SKY Perfect JSAT Group
COSPAR ID	1996-007A
SATCAT no.	23781
Mission duration	10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	N-STAR b
Bus	SSL 1300
Manufacturer	Space Systems/Loral
Launch mass	3,400 kg (7,500 lb)
BOL mass	2,050 kg (4,520 lb)
Dry mass	1,617 kg (3,565 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	5 February 1996, 07:19:38 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 44P H10-3
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Transponders
Band	6 C-band; 11 Ka-band; 8 Ku-band; 1 S-band
Coverage area	Japan
	N-Star constellation ← N-STAR a N-STAR c →

N-STAR b, was a geostationary communications satellite originally ordered by a consortium including NTT DoCoMo and JSAT Corporation, and later fully acquired by JSAT, which was merged into SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It was designed and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral on the SSL 1300 platform.^[2] It had a launch weight of 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), and a 10-year design life.^[2] Its payload is composed of 6 C-band, 11 Ka-band, 8 Ku-band and 1 S-band transponders.

History

N-Star was created as a joint venture between JSAT, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), NTT Communications and NTT DoCoMo for the supply of these latter two WIDESTAR satellite telephone and data packet service.^[4] JSAT would handle the satellite side of business and NTT DoCoMo would operate the payload.^[5]^[6]

Two identical satellites were ordered on 1992 from Space Systems Loral, N-STAR a and N-STAR b, for 1995 and 1996 on orbit delivery.^[7]^[8] They would be "switchboards in the sky" having S-band, C-band, Ka-band and Ku-band payload.^[9]

N-STAR a was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44P on 29 August 1995. Its twin, N-STAR b, launched on 5 February 1996, also aboard an Ariane 44P.^[2]^[9] The satellite telephone service was operational in March 1996. In March 2000, the packet communications service was introduced.^[10] In March 2000, JSAT received the NTT Communications interest in the N-STAR a and N-STAR b.^[11]^[12]

In August 2003, the JSAT acquired the NTT DoCoMo interest on N-STAR a and N-STAR b, whom then leased them back.^[13]^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b "Display: N-STAR B 1996-006A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Krebs, Gunter (11 December 2017). "N-Star a, b". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ "Communications in Japan 1999" (PDF). General Planning and Policy Division, Minister's Secretariat (Page 132) (Whitepaper) (1999 ed.). Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japan. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 8 February 2002. pp. 33–34. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ "N-Star". Global Security. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "Awards & Launch History - 1300 Bus Satellites". SSL (company). Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
^ ^a ^b "N-Star a and b". SSL (company). Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
^ Yamamoto, Kazuichi; Furukawa, Makoto; Satoh, Hijin; Nishi, Yasuki; Kouji, Horikawa (September 2010). "Overview of WIDESTAR II Mobile Satellite Communications System and Service" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo Technical Journal. 12 (2). NTT DoCoMo: 37–42. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "Who we are?". SKY Perfect JSAT Group. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "History". SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ "NTT DoCoMo to Transfer Satellite Assets to JSAT and Acquire JSAT Common Stock". NTT DoCoMo. 31 July 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^ "FORM 20-F/A AMENDMENT NO.1 TO FORM 20-F" (PDF). NTT DoCoMo. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2016.