Orbital N-STAR c - Manual

Communications
Mission Description
Built for NTT DoCoMo, N-STAR c is furthering NTT’s vision of providing wireless service for a multitude
of applications including mobile telephony, data transfer and maritime communications. N-STAR c
provides an improved signal to users, allowing better voice quality and smaller mobile phones for the
Japanese users.
N-STAR c operates in the S-band with a C-band feeder link. The satellite is located at 136 degrees East
Longitude and was launched in early July 2002 on an Ariane 5 rocket. N-STAR c is optimized for a ten-
year minimum life on-orbit, and is augmenting service provided by the company’s existing satellites.
Lockheed Martin supplied the payload, which was integrated onto the Orbital GEOStar-2 ™ bus in
Orbital’s Dulles, Virginia facility. Final integration and test was performed at the Lockheed Martin
Commercial Space Systems facilities in Newtown, Pennsylvania. In addition to the satellite bus, Orbital
provided the ground system and procured the launch vehicle.
Spacecraft
N-STAR c is based on Orbital’s highly successful Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) communications
satellites which are able to accommodate all types of commercial communications payloads and are
compatible with all major commercial launchers. The company’s GEOStar product line includes the
GEOStar-2 design, which is optimized for smaller satellite missions that can support up to 5.0 kilowatts
of payload power. Orbital has also developed the higher-power GEOStar-3 spacecraft design, delivering
the next increment of payload power for applications between 5.0 and 8.0 kilowatts, allowing Orbital to
offer its innovative and reliable satellite design to the medium-class of communications satellites.
Coverage:
Japan
Mission:
S-band mobile communications
Customer:
NTT Mobile Communications Network
FACTS AT A GLANCE
N-STAR c
S-band Commercial Communications Satellite
GEO
N-STAR c mated to Ariane 5 prior to its
July 5, 2002 launch