JCSAT-5A


JCSAT-5A or N-STAR d, known as JCSAT-9 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group which was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100 platform.

Satellite description

The spacecraft was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin on the A2100AX satellite bus. It had a launch mass of and a 12-year design life. It would provide communications services throughout Japan and Asia and for NTT DoCoMo. As most satellites based on the A2100 platform, it uses a LEROS-1C LAE for orbit raising. Its solar panels span when fully deployed and, with its antennas in fully extended configuration it is wide.
Its payload is composed of eight 54 MHz and twelve 36 MHz Ku band transponders, twenty 36 MHz C band transponders and one S band beam. The Ku band transponders have a TWTA output power of 110 Watts, the C band of 45 Watts and the S beam of 130Watts.

History

On April 30, 2003 JSAT awarded an order for JCSAT-9 to Lockheed Martin and its A2100AXS platform. And in May 2003 JSAT leased some transponders to NTT DoCoMo to be used as N-STAR d for its WIDESTAR II service. An hybrid satellite with 20 C band, 20 Ku band, and 1 S-band transponders, it was expected for launch in 2005 for the 132° East slot.
On April 12, 2006 at 23:29:59 GMT a Zenit-3SL launching from the offshore Ocean Odyssey launch platform successfully orbited JCSAT-9. Separation from the launch vehicle occurred at 00:38:02 GMT. JSAT had leased some transponders to NTT DoCoMo to be used as N-STAR d. Once in its 132°East orbital position, it was renamed as JCSAT-5A and N-STAR d.