24880 - SUPERBIRD-A3

Superbird-C is a communications satellite launched for Space Communications Corp. (SCC) of Japan. It provides television signals and business communications services throughout Japan, southern and eastern Asia, and Hawaii using Ku-band frequencies. It joined the existing constellation of Superbird-A (158 degrees east longitude) and Superbird-B (162 degrees east), taking position at 144 degrees E longitude.

The two 2.16-m-diameter, highly directional and accurately pointing dual-gridded reflectors were built using shaped beam technology. The east antenna covers Japan and Hawaii, and the west antenna covers northeast and southeast Asia. The Ku-band steerable spot-beam antennas are capable of providing coverage to any location visible from the spacecraft's geosynchronous orbit location.

Final orbital insertion, as well as stationkeeping operations, is provided by the satellite's integrated bipropellant propulsion system. The three-axis body-stabilized satellite has both fixed and movable antennas and is designed to provide a 13-year mission life.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 1997-07-28
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-2 AS
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 3100.0 kg