JCSAT-2B , known as JCSAT-14 before commissioning, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group and designed and manufactured by SSL on the SSL 1300 platform. ^{[4] [5]} It had a launch weight of 4,696.2 kg (10,353 lb), a power production capacity of 9 to 9.9 kW at end of life and a 15-year design life. ^[3] Its payload is composed of 26 C band and 18 K _u band transponders with a total bandwidth of 2,853 MHz. ^[3]

SKY Perfect JSAT Group will use JCSAT-2B as a replacement for JCSAT-2A to provide communications services to Japan, Asia, Russia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands. ^[5]

History [ edit ]

On June 11, 2013, SSL announced that it had been awarded a contract by SKY Perfect JSAT Group to manufacture JCSAT-14 . It would be a 10 kW satellite with 26 C band and 18 K _u band transponders with a 15 years of expected life. It was scheduled for launch in 2015. ^[6]

On January 10, 2014, JSAT announced that it had signed a launch service contract with SpaceX for the launch of JCSAT-14 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The expected launch date was the second half of 2015. ^[7] But the failure of Falcon 9 Flight 19 meant a delay of at least six months on the launch. ^[3]

On March 14, 2016, SSL delivered JCSAT-14 to the launch site, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , for launch processing and integration. ^[8] JCSAT-14 was launched on May 6, 2016, at 05:21 UTC by a Falcon 9 rocket. ^[3] The next day, SSL announced that the satellite had deployed the solar arrays, was in full control and was performing orbital maneuvers to reach its operational position. ^[9]

Since July 2016, the rechristened JCSAT-2B is commissioned and operational at the 154° East orbital slot. ^[10]

Launch and rocket landing [ edit ]

JCSAT-14 was launched to geostationary transfer orbit on May 6, 2016, at 05:21 UTC, as the 24th mission of a Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket. ^[3] The rocket's first stage subsequently landed on the autonomous spaceport drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean. ^[11]

The first stage of the rocket encountered "extreme temperatures during its reentry into Earth atmosphere" and was subsequently identified as a candidate for reflight, and as a "reference vehicle" for further testing. It was subjected to a series of tests, including a 150-second full-duration engine firing completed on 28 July 2016. Additional tests were planned before SpaceX determines the stage's suitability for reuse on a subsequent launch. ^[12] SpaceX has since completed at least 7 more full-duration firings of the core, and has indicated that this stage will be used solely for ground testing purposes. ^{[ citation needed ]}

See also [ edit ]

• JCSAT-16 , a similar satellite.
• SKY PerfecTV! , the satellite TV division of the parent company , primary user of JCSAT-14.
• List of Falcon 9 launches

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• JSAT Fleet Status Archived 2016-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
• SSL JCSAT-2B Official Page Archived 2016-07-18 at the Wayback Machine