View source for JCSAT-4A

{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = JCSAT-4A
| names_list        = '''JCSAT-6''' (order to Feb 1999)<br/>'''JCSAT-4A''' (Feb 1999 onward)
| image             = 
| image_caption     = 
| image_size        = 300px

| mission_type      = [[Communications satellite|Communications]]
| operator          = [[SKY Perfect JSAT Group]]
| COSPAR_ID         = 1999-006A 
| SATCAT            = 25630
| website           = 
| mission_duration  = 14.5 years (planned) <br/> {{time interval|February 16, 1999 01:45:26}} (elasped)

| spacecraft        = JCSAT-6
| spacecraft_type   = [[JSAT (satellite constellation)|JCSAT]]
| spacecraft_bus    = [[HS-601]]
| manufacturer      = [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes]]
| launch_mass       = {{convert|2900|kg}}
| dry_mass          = 
| dimensions        = 
| power             =

| launch_date       = 16 February 1999, 01:45:26 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
| launch_rocket     = [[Atlas II|Atlas IIAS]] (AC-152)
| launch_site       = [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station|Cape Canaveral]], [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36|LC-36A]]
| launch_contractor = [[International Launch Services]] (ILS)

| entered_service   = 
| disposal_type     = 
| deactivated       =

| orbit_reference   = [[Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime      = [[Geostationary orbit]]
| orbit_longitude   = 124° East
| apsis             = gee

| trans_band        = 32 [[Ku band|K<sub>u</sub> band]]
| trans_frequency   = 
| trans_bandwidth   = 
| trans_capacity    = 
| trans_coverage    = Japan
| trans_TWTA        =

| insignia          = 
| insignia_caption  = 
| insignia_size     = 200px

| programme         = [[JSAT (satellite constellation)|JCSAT constellation]]
| previous_mission  = [[JCSAT-1B]]
| next_mission      = [[JCSAT-110]]

}}
'''JCSAT-4A''', designated '''JCSAT-6''' before launch, is a Japanese geostationary [[communications satellite]] which is operated by [[JSAT Corporation]] (now [[SKY Perfect JSAT|SKY Perfect JSAT Group]]). 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sptvjsat.com/en/business/satellite/list/jcsat_4a.html|title=JCSAT-4A|publisher=Sky Perfect JSAT|access-date=2009-08-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713034304/http://www.sptvjsat.com/en/business/satellite/list/jcsat_4a.html|archive-date=2009-07-13}}</ref>

== Spacecraft description ==
JCSAT-6 was constructed by Hughes, based on the [[HS-601]] [[satellite bus]]. It is equipped with 32 [[Ku band|Ku-band]] [[Transponder (satellite communications)|transponder]]s, and at launch it had a mass of {{cvt|2900|kg}}, with an expected operational lifespan of fourteen and a half years.<ref name="UCS">{{cite web|url=http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/space_weapons/technical_issues/ucs-satellite-database.html|title=UCS Satellite Database|publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists|date=2009-07-01|access-date=2009-08-08}}</ref><ref name="GSP">{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/jcsat-5.htm|title=JCSat 5, 6|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=2009-08-08}}</ref>

== Launch ==
It was launched atop an [[Atlas II|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 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on 16 February 1999,<ref name="JSR-LL">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|last=McDowell |first=Jonathan|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|date=14 March 2021|access-date=20 March 2021}}</ref> 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 kick motor|apogee motor]].<ref name="EA">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/project/jcsat.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020829020459/http://astronautix.com/project/jcsat.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2002|title=JCSAT|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|last=Wade |first=Mark|access-date=2009-08-08}}</ref> The final burn to complete its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 1 March 1999.<ref name="GSOHist">{{cite web |url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date|title=Index|work=Geostationary Orbit Catalog|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|access-date=2009-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406015538/http://www.planet4589.org/space/log/geo.date|archive-date=2010-04-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[1999 in spaceflight]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Orbital launches in 1999}}
{{JCSAT}}

[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1999]]
[[Category:Satellites using the BSS-601 bus]]
[[Category:Communications satellites of Japan]]
[[Category:Satellites of Japan]]


{{communications-satellite-stub}}
{{Japan-spacecraft-stub|nocat=yes}}