Superbird C

Japan

Spacecraft n°:

Japanese spacecraft n°: 83

Launch data

Designation	24880 / 97036A
Launch date	28 Jul 1997
Launch site	CC, LC-36B
Launch vehicle	Atlas-2AS (AC-133) (#108)
Mission	Communications
Geostationary orbit:
Location	144°E

Investment is evaluated to $416 million including insurance. The satellite alone is worth $100 million

Specifications

Prime contractor	Hughes
Platform	HS-601
Mass at launch	3130 kg
Mass in orbit	1850 kg
Dimension	2.7 x 3.8 x 4 m
Solar array	26.2 m span
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	EOL: 4500 W
Design lifetime	13 years

Ku-band

Main transponders	24
Backup transponders	6
Power	90 W
Bandwidth	16 x 27 MHz 4 x 36 MHz 4 x 54 MHz (convertible to 2 x 114 MHz at 180 W)
Coverage & EIRP max	Japan: 57.6 dBW North East Asia: 54.6 dBW South East Asia: 51.5 dBW Steerable: 50.4 dBW Hawaii: 52.3 dBW
G/T max	steerable: 4.2 dB/K
SFD max	steerable: -98.5 dBW/m²
Polarization	linear H/V
Frequencies	uplink: 14.00 - 14.50 GHz downlink: 12.25 - 12.75 GHz downlink: 11.70 - 12.70 GHz (Hawaii only)

In addition to two conventional antennas (2.16 m) the spacecraft will also feature a steerable spot beam designed and built by Mitsubishi to increase service where needed.

Superbird C would have 125 MHz of X-band in the payload for mobile communication.

Uplink transponder frequency chart (GHz)

Vertical Uplink	Transponder	Horizontal Uplink	Bandwidth (MHz)	Beam
14.05	1		54	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia (Tr 1 & 2 can be combined)
	13	14.05	54	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia (Tr 13 & 14 can be combined)
14.11	2		54	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia (Tr 1 & 2 can be combined)
	14	14.11	54	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia (Tr 13 & 14 can be combined)
14.16	3		36	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia
	15	14.16	36	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.20	4		36	Japan-Hawaii
	16	14.20	36	Japan-Hawaii or Steerable
	17	14.238	27	Japan-Hawaii or Steerable
14.253	5		27	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia
	18	14.268	27	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.283	6		27	Japan-Hawaii
	19	14.298	27	Japan-Hawaii or Steerable
14.313	7		27	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia
	20	14.328	27	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.343	8		27	Japan-Hawaii
	21	14.358	27	Japan-Hawaii or Steerable
14.373	9		27	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia
	22	14.388	27	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.403	10		27	Japan-Hawaii
	23	14.418	27	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.433	11		27	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia
	24	14.448	27	Japan-Hawaii or NE Asia
14.463	12		27	Japan-Hawaii or SE Asia

Downlink transponder frequency chart (GHz)

Vertical Downlink	Transponder	Horizontal Downlink	Bandwidth (MHz)	Beam
	1	12.32	54	Japan or SE Asia (Tr 1 & 2 can be combined)
12.32	13		54	Japan or NE Asia (Tr 13 & 14 can be combined)
	2	12.38	54	Japan or SE Asia (Tr 1 & 2 can be combined)
12.38	14		54	Japan or NE Asia (Tr 13 & 14 can be combined)
	3	12.43	36	Japan or SE Asia
12.43	15		36	Japan or NE Asia
	4	12.47	36	Japan or Hawaii
12.47	16		36	Japan or Steerable
12.508	17		27	Japan or Steerable
	5	12.523	27	Japan or SE Asia
12.538	18		27	Japan or NE Asia
	6	12.553	27	Japan or Hawaii
12.568	19		27	Japan or Steerable
	7	12.583	27	Japan or SE Asia
12.598	20		27	Japan or NE Asia
	8	12.613	27	Japan or Hawaii
12.628	21		27	Japan or Steerable
	9	12.643	27	Japan or SE Asia
12.658	22		27	Japan or NE Asia
	10	12.673	27	Japan or Hawaii
12.688	23		27	Japan or NE Asia
	11	12.703	27	Japan or SE Asia
12.718	24		27	Japan or NE Asia
	12	12.733	27	Japan or SE Asia

Beacons: 12.250 V & 12.252 H GHz on Japan beam, 11.101 H GHz on Hawaii beam, 12.254 V GHz on NE Asia beam, 12.255 H GHz on SE Asia beam, 12.749 V GHz on Steerable beam

Ref: #15 - update: 24.10.04