Superbird-A
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Space Communications Corporation |
| COSPAR ID | 1989-041A |
| SATCAT no. | 20040 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Superbird-A |
| Bus | SSL 1300 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 2,489.2 kg (5,488 lb) |
| Dimensions | Stowed:2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in) Solar arrays extended:20.3 m (67 ft) |
| Power | 3,984 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 22:37:18, June 5, 1989 |
| Rocket | Ariane-44L |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Inclined geosynchronous |
| Semi-major axis | 42311 km |
| Perigee | 35,926.3 km |
| Apogee | 35,953.9 km |
| Inclination | 15.2° |
| Period | 1,443.6 minutes |
| Epoch | 2016-08-18 00:00:00UTC |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 19 Ku band and 10 Ka band |
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Superbird-A, also identified as Superbird-1 before launch, was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace (now SSL MDA) on the SSL 1300 platform. It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. It had a mixed Ku band, Ka band and X band payload and operated on the 158°E longitude.
It was ordered in 1985 along Superbird-B, Superbird-A1 and Superbird-B1 on the very first order of the SSL 1300 platform. It was also the first satellite of SCC and the second commercial satellite of Japan after JCSAT-1. It was used for video distribution, news gathering, remote publishing and high definition TV service to the main islands of Japan and Okinawa.
The spacecraft was the first satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace on the SSL 1300 satellite bus. It was based on the design of the Intelsat V series and offered a three-axis stabilized platform.
It had a launch mass of 2,489.2 kg (5,488 lb) and a 10 year design life. When stowed for launch, its dimensions were 2.41 m × 2.58 m × 2.20 m (7 ft 11 in × 8 ft 6 in × 7 ft 3 in). With its solar panels fully extended it spanned 20.3 m (67 ft). Its power system generated approximately 3,984 W of power thanks to two wings with three solar panels each. It also a NiH2 battery to survive the solar eclipses. It would serve as the main satellite on the 158°E longitude position of the Superbird.
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