Superbird-B1

Superbird-B1
NamesSuperbird-1B
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorSpace Communications Corporation
COSPAR ID1992-010A [1]
SATCAT no.21893
Mission duration10 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSuperbird-B1
Spacecraft typeSuperbird
BusSSL 1300
ManufacturerSpace Systems/Loral
Launch mass2,560 kg (5,640 lb)
DimensionsStowed: 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)
Power4 kW
Start of mission
Launch date26 February 1992, 23:58:10 UTC[2]
RocketAriane-44L
Launch siteCentre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[3]
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude162° East
Transponders
Band23 Ku-band
3 Ka-band
2 X-band
Coverage areaJapan

Superbird-B1, sometimes identified as Superbird-1B, was a geostationary communications satellite designed and manufactured by Ford Aerospace on the SSL 1300 satellite bus. It was originally ordered by Space Communications Corporation (SCC), which later merged into the SKY Perfect JSAT Group.[4] It had a mixed Ku-band, Ka-band and X-band payload and was rushed into launch at the 162° East longitude due to the launch failure of Superbird-B.[5][6]

It was ordered in 1985 along Superbird-A, Superbird-B and Superbird-A1 on the very first order of the SSL 1300 platform.[5][7][8][9] It was also the second satellite of SCC on orbit and the fourth commercial satellite of Japan to enter operations.[5] It was used for video distribution, news gathering, remote publishing and high definition TV service to the main islands of Japan and Okinawa.[1]

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