JCSAT-17
| Company type | Communications satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Satellite communications |
| Founded | February 18, 2020 |
| Founder | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
Area served | Japan and Asia-Pacific region |
| Products | S-band and Ku-band communication services |
| Owner | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
| Parent | SKY Perfect JSAT Group |
JCSAT-17 is a communications satellite positioned in geostationary orbit and managed by the SKY Perfect JSAT Group. Constructed by Lockheed Martin Space utilizing the LM-2100 satellite platform, it was launched on 18 February 2020 aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. The satellite mainly provides services to Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific area. Featuring several S-band transponders alongside a reconfigurable processor, JCSAT-17 offers adaptable communication bandwidth, facilitating disaster response efforts and accommodating periods of elevated demand.
History
On 3 February 2016, SKY Perfect JSAT entered into an agreement with Lockheed Martin Space Systems to develop JCSAT-17 based on an upgraded version of the A2100 bus, subsequently identified as LM-2100, engineered for a minimum operational life of 15 years.
The launch service for JCSAT-17 was awarded to Arianespace on 4 January 2017, with deployment planned via an Ariane 5 ECA. The satellite was transported to Kourou in January 2020 in preparation for its mission.
Spacecraft
Built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems on the LM-2100 platform, JCSAT-17 incorporates an 18-meter reflector antenna dedicated to focused S-band communications over Japan and adjacent territories. This sizable S-band mesh antenna was produced by L3Harris Technologies, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida. Additionally, the spacecraft is equipped with Ku-band transceivers designed to support avionics communication for aircraft.
Launch
The satellite was launched from the Guiana Space Centre at the ELA-3 launch complex on 18 February 2020 at 22:19 UTC aboard an Ariane 5 ECA. It shared this mission with South Korea’s GEO-KOMPSAT 2B weather satellite.
Around 31 minutes after liftoff, JCSAT-17 successfully detached from the SYLDA payload adapter and entered a geostationary transfer orbit.
Its S-band and C-band payloads are employed by Japanese mobile network operator NTT Docomo, enabling mobile connectivity across Japan and nearby regions, thereby supporting SKY Perfect JSAT’s communications objectives within the Asia-Pacific market.