JCSAT-RA

JCSAT-RA
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorSKY Perfect JSAT Group
COSPAR ID2009-044A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.35755
Mission duration15 years
Spacecraft properties
BusA2100AXS
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Launch mass4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date21 August 2009, 22:09 (2009-08-21UTC22:09Z) UTC
RocketAriane 5ECA
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Perigee altitude35,787 kilometres (22,237 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude35,798 kilometres (22,244 mi)[1]
Inclination0.04 degrees[1]
Period1436.11 minutes[1]
Epoch24 January 2015, 13:19:57 UTC[1]

JCSAT-RA, previously known as JCSAT-12,[2] is a Japanese geostationary communications satellite, which is operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group.

Details

It was ordered to replace the JCSAT-11 satellite which was lost in a launch failure on a Proton-M/Briz-M rocket in 2007, and is currently used as an on-orbit spare satellite; a role in which it replaced the older JCSAT-R spacecraft, providing a reserve for if one of the company's other satellites fails. It is a 4,000-kilogram (8,800 lb) satellite, which was constructed by Lockheed Martin based on the A2100AX satellite bus, with the same configuration as JCSAT-10 and JCSAT-11.[2] The contract to build JCSAT-12 was awarded on 6 September 2007, the day after JCSAT-11 failed to reach orbit.[3]

It was launched, along with the Australian Optus D3 satellite, by Arianespace.[4] An Ariane 5ECA rocket was used for the launch, which occurred from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 22:09 GMT on 21 August 2009, at the start of a 60-minute launch window.

JCSAT-12 separated from its carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which raise itself to geostationary orbit using a LEROS-1C apogee motor. It has a design life of fifteen years, and carries forty two transponders; twelve G/H band, and thirty J band (US IEEE C and Ku bands respectively).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "JCSAT 12 Satellite details 2009-044A NORAD 35755". N2YO. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "JCSat 10, 11, 12 (JCSat 3A, RA)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Order of the Replacement Satellite of JCSAT-11 Backup Satellite Following Launch Failure" (PDF). JSAT Corporation. 6 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Arianespace & JSAT Culminate Contract For JCSAT-12". Satnews Daily. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Preparations continue with the JCSAT-12 and Optus D3 payloads for Ariane 5's next launch". Mission Update. Arianespace. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.