View source for Superbird-C2

{{Short description|Communications satellite}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = Superbird-C2
| names_list        = Superbird-7
| image             = 
| image_caption     = 
| image_size        = 300px

| mission_type      = [[Communications satellite|Communications]]
| operator          = [[SKY Perfect JSAT Group|JSAT]]
| COSPAR_ID         = 2008-038A      
| SATCAT            = 33274
| website           = 
| mission_duration  = 15 years (planned)

| spacecraft        = Superbird-7
| spacecraft_type   = [[JSAT (satellite constellation)|Superbird]]
| spacecraft_bus    = [[DS2000]]
| manufacturer      = [[Mitsubishi Electric]]
| launch_mass       = {{cvt|4820|kg}}
| dry_mass          = {{cvt|2018|kg}}
| dimensions        = 
| power             =

| launch_date       = 14 August 2008, 20:44 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
| launch_rocket     = [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5 ECA]] (V185)
| launch_site       = [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]], [[ELA-3]]
| launch_contractor = [[Arianespace]]

| entered_service   = 17 October 2008
| disposal_type     = 
| deactivated       = 
| last_contact      =

| orbit_reference   = [[Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime      = [[Geostationary orbit]]
| orbit_longitude   = 144° East
| apsis             = gee

| trans_band        = 20 [[Ku band|Ku-band]] × 27 MHz + 8 Ku-band × 36 MHz <ref name=jsat-pr20080717/>
| trans_frequency   = 
| trans_bandwidth   = 828 [[Hertz|MHz]]
| trans_capacity    = 
| trans_coverage    = Japan, [[East Asia]], [[Pacific Ocean]]
| trans_TWTA        = 100 watts <ref name=jsat-superbirdc2/>

| insignia          = 
| insignia_caption  = 
| insignia_size     = 200px

| programme         = [[JSAT (satellite constellation)|Superbird constellation]]
| previous_mission  = [[Superbird-A2]]
| next_mission      = [[Superbird-B3]]
}}

'''Superbird-C2''', known as '''Superbird-7''' before launch, is a [[geostationary orbit|geostationary]] [[communications satellite]] operated by [[JSAT Corporation]] and designed and manufactured by [[Mitsubishi Electric]] (MELCO) on the [[DS2000]] [[satellite bus]].<ref name=gsp-superbird7/><ref name=melco-pr20051101/> It had a launch weight of {{cvt|4820|kg}}, a 15-year design life and was the first commercial communications satellite built in Japan.<ref name=gsp-superbird7/> Its payload is composed of 28 [[Ku band|Ku-band]] [[Transponder (satellite communications)|transponders]] with a total bandwidth of 828 [[Hertz|MHz]].<ref name=jsat-pr20080717/>

It was originally ordered by [[SKY Perfect JSAT|Space Communications Corporation]] (SCC), owned by the [[Mitsubishi Group]] [[keiretsu]], also the parent company of MELCO, but it was later merged and absorbed by JSAT Corporation. By the time of the actual launch it was a fully used Superbird-C2 as a replacement for [[Superbird-C]] to provide communications services to Japan, [[East Asia]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref name=jsat-pr20080717/>

== History ==
In April 2005, Space Communications Corporation (SCC) issued an [[Request for proposal]] (RFP) for Superbird-7, a spacecraft destined to replace the aging [[Superbird-C]]. On 28 June 2005, [[Mitsubishi Electric]] (MELCO) got first contract negotiations right, and on31 October 2005, SCC and MELCO successfully concluded the contract negotiation.<ref name=melco-pr20051101/> On 1 November 2005, SCC makes the orders to MELCO official for the first commercial communications satellite to be built in Japan, the Superbird-7. The contract called for on orbit delivery, with MELCO handling every detail from construction to launch procurement and on orbit testing for final hand over to the customer. It was not only the first SCC order for a commercial communications satellite built in Japan, but the first such order ever. This event meant that MELCO officially entered the market.<ref name=melco-pr20051101/>

Superbird-7 was expected to weight around {{cvt|5000|kg}}, have 28 [[Ku band|Ku-band]] [[Transponder (satellite communications)|transponders]], a design life of 15 years and be launched on the first quarter of 2008. It was going to be renamed as Superbird-C2 once in orbit and be stationed on the 144° East where it would replace the aging [[Superbird-C]]. It was expected to offer its services in Japan, Eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean.<ref name=melco-pr20051101/>

In March 2008, SCC becomes a fully owned subsidiary of [[SKY Perfect JSAT Group]].<ref name=jsat-pr20080312/><ref name=skyperfectjsat-history20160728/> On the SKY Perfect JSAT board meeting of 6 August 2008, it was resolved to merge SKY Perfect Communications, JSAT Corporation and Space Communications Corporation. The merger would see SKY Perfect absorb JSAT and SCC and both legacy companies dissolved. Thus, by the time of launch, Superbird-7 was a JSAT spacecraft.<ref name=jsat-pr20080806/>

Superbird-7 was successfully launched along [[AMC-21]] by an [[Ariane 5 ECA]] on 14 August 2008, at 20:44 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]. It separated from the spacecraft at 21:09 UTC and less than an hour later, at 22:03 UTC, it had already spread its [[Solar panels on spacecraft|solar panels]]. After the successful launch, Superbird-7 was renamed as Superbird-C2.<ref name=melco-pr20080815/><ref name=gsp-superbird7/>

On 17 October 2008, MELCO announced that they had performed the final handover of the spacecraft to JSAT. They had performed all orbital maneuvers to its correct orbital slot on the 144° East position, had completed the on-orbit tests and performed the necessary acceptance tests.<ref name=melco-pr20081017/> This concluded the commission phase and the spacecraft was put into service.<ref name=jsat-pr20081017/>

On 1 August 2012, JSAT and [[Panasonic Avionics Corporation]] announced an agreement for under which Panasonic would commit to use the Superbird-C2 beams for its eXConnect in-flight Internet connectivity service in South East Asia.<ref name=jsat-pr20120801/>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[DS2000]] – The satellite bus on which Superbird-C2 is based
* [[SKY PerfecTV!]] – Satellite TV division of the same owner corporation and major user of Superbird-C2

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=gsp-superbird7>{{cite web|last1=Krebs|first1=Gunter|title=Superbird 7 (Superbird C2)|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/superbird-7.htm|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=2016-07-20 |date=2016-04-21}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-pr20080312>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/pdf/images/news/E/E0000147.pdf|title=Making Space Communications Corporation (SCC) a wholly owned subsidiary|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT |date=March 12, 2008|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-pr20080717>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/pdf/images/news/E/E0000106.pdf|title=SCC Announces Launch Schedule for Superbird-7|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|date=July 17, 2008|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-pr20080806>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/pdf/images/news/E/E0000106.pdf|title=Notice of Merger of Consolidated Subsidiaries|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|date=August 6, 2008|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-pr20081017>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/pdf/images/news/E/E0000088.pdf|title=Start of Operation of Superbird-C2 Communications Satellite|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|date=October 17, 2008|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-pr20120801>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/pdf/images/news/E/E0000088.pdf|title=Panasonic Avionics Commits to Capacity of SKY Perfect JSAT's Superbird-C2 Satellite|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|date=August 1, 2012|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

<ref name=jsat-superbirdc2>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsat.net/en/contour/superbird-c2.html|title=Superbird-C2|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|access-date=2016-08-03|archive-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509040230/http://www.jsat.net/en/contour/superbird-c2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=melco-pr20051101>{{cite web|url=http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2005/1101.pdf|title=Mitsubishi Electric receives order for Superbird-7 communications satellite from Space Communications Corporation|date=November 1, 2005|publisher=Mitsubishi Electric|access-date=2016-08-03|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305020915/http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2005/1101.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=melco-pr20080815>{{cite web|url=http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2008/0815.pdf|title=Mitsubishi Electric successfully launches Superbird-7, the first Japan-made commercial communications satellite|date=August 15, 2008|publisher=Mitsubishi Electric|access-date=2016-08-03|archive-date=15 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115132200/http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2008/0815.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=melco-pr20081017>{{cite web|url=http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2008/1017.pdf|title=Mitsubishi Electric completes final handover of Superbird-7 (C2) to Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation|date=October 17, 2008|publisher=Mitsubishi Electric|access-date=2016-08-03|archive-date=15 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115131540/http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2008/1017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=skyperfectjsat-history20160728>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyperfectjsat.co.jp/en/about/history.html|title=History|publisher=SKY Perfect JSAT|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>
}}

{{Orbital launches in 2008}}
{{Superbird}}
{{Mitsubishi Electric}}

[[Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2008]]
[[Category:Satellites using the DS2000 bus]]
[[Category:Mitsubishi Electric products, services and standards]]
[[Category:Communications satellites of Japan]]
[[Category:2008 in Japan]]
[[Category:Satellites made by Mitsubishi Electric]]