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Superbird 6 (Superbird A2)

Superbird 6 [Boeing BSS]

Space Communications Corporation (SCC), a Japanese satellite communications service company, ordered SUPERBIRD-6 (renamed Superbird A2 on orbit), another Boeing BSS-601 communications satellite, from Boeing Satellite Systems in September 2001. It is the third Boeing satellite to be built for SCC. SUPERBIRD-6 is scheduled to launch in the third Fall of 2003 on an Atlas-2AS launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral AS, Florida.

SUPERBIRD-6, slated for an orbital slot at 158.0 degrees East longitude, will provide business telecommunication services using a Japan Beam for Ku-Band and Ka-Band services along with a steerable spot beam for additional Ka-Band services. The satellite has a payload of 23 active Ku-Band transponders and four Ka-Band transponders.

Superbird 6 was delivered by the Atlas-2AS launch vehicle to its predefined supersyncronous transfer orbit. But this orbit did not consider the moons gravity influence, which caused the perigee to drop. To rescue the satellite, most of its fuel was used up. Additionally the solar panels outer parts have reduced power, possibly due to the low perigee pass. The satellite can probably not enter service as planned in July 2004. One of two main fuel tanks on the spacecraft lost pressure on November 28. That anomaly will cause the spacecraft's lifetime to be significantly shortened. Apparently the satellite was never commissioned into regular service.

Nation: Japan
Type / Application: Communication
Operator: Space Communications Corporation (SCC)
Contractors: Boeing
Equipment: 23 active Ku-Band transponders, 4 active Ka-Band transponders.
Configuration: BSS-601
Propulsion: ?
Power: 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime: 13 years
Mass: 3100 kg (1528 kg BOL)
Orbit: GEO
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
Superbird 6 (Superbird A2) 2004-011A 16.04.2004 CC SLC-36A Atlas-2AS

References:

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