JCSAT-4A

JCSAT-4A, designated JCSAT-6 before launch, is a Japanese geostationary communications satellite which is operated by JSAT Corporation. It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 124° East, from where it is used to provide broadcasting and corporate network communications to Japan.

Spacecraft description

JCSAT-6 was constructed by Hughes, based on the HS-601 satellite bus. It is equipped with 32 Ku-band transponders, and at launch it had a mass of, with an expected operational lifespan of fourteen and a half years.

Launch

It was launched atop an Atlas IIAS launch vehicle flying from Cape Canaveral [Launch Complex 36|Launch Complex 36A] at the Cape Canaveral [Space Force Station|Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]. The launch occurred at 01:45:26 UTC on 16 February 1999, and successfully placed JCSAT-6 into a geostationary transfer orbit. From this orbit, the satellite raised itself into a geostationary orbit using an R-4D apogee motor. The final burn to complete its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 1 March 1999.