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Winds

WINDS (Kizuna)
Mission type Communication
Operator JAXA/NICT
COSPAR ID 2008-007A
SATCAT № 32500
Website JAXA
Mission duration 5 years (design)
Spacecraft properties
Bus NX-G
Manufacturer NEC
Launch mass 4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb)
BOL mass 2,750 kilograms (6,060 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 23 February 2008 (2008-02-23)
Rocket H-IIA
Launch site Tanegashima Y1
Contractor Mitsubishi
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 143° East
Semi-major axis 42,164 kilometres (26,199 mi)
Perigee 35,784.1 kilometres (22,235.2 mi)
Apogee 35,803.8 kilometres (22,247.4 mi)
Inclination 0.2 °
Period 1,436.1 minutes
Epoch 00:00:00 UTC 2016-08-31

WINDS (Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite, also known as Kizuna), is a Japanese communication satellite. Launch was originally scheduled for 2007. The launch date was eventually set for 15 February 2008, however a problem detected in a second stage manoeuvring thruster delayed it to 23 February. Lift-off occurred at 08:55 GMT on 23 February, and the satellite separated from the carrier rocket, into a Geosynchronous transfer orbit at 09:23, launched by an H-IIA carrier rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. It will be used to relay the internet to Japanese homes and businesses, through Ka-Band signals. It will also develop technologies to be utilised by future Japanese communication spacecraft. It is part of Japan's i-Space program, and is to be operated by JAXA and NICT.

JAXA claim that WINDS will be able to provide 155 Mbit/s download speed to home users with 45-centimetre diameter satellite dishes, whilst providing industrial users, via 5-metre diameter dishes, with 1.2 Gbit/s speeds.

WINDS has a launch mass of 4,850 kg, reducing to around 2,750 kg when in orbit. The spacecraft is 8 m x 3 m x 2 m in size, and its solar panels have a span of 21.5 metres. It has three-axis stabilisation, and a design life expectancy of five years.



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