Zenit Rocket Orbits Japanese Communications Satellite

The Japanese communications satellite JCSAT 9 launches into orbit atop a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket on April 12, 2006. CREDIT: Sea Launch.

A Japanese communications satellite to serve Southeast Asia and Hawaii took a sea-launched route to space Wednesday, blasting off aboard a 20-story rocket from a platform floating in the Pacific Ocean.

The 20th flight of a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket began at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT). An hour later, the JCSAT 9 spacecraft was successfully delivered into a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 22,200 miles (35 727 kilometers), low point of 1,047 miles (1,684 kilometers) and inclination of zero degrees along the equator.

Over the next few weeks, JCSAT 9 will use its propulsion system to gradually raise its orbit to geostationary altitude, where its velocity will match that of Earth's rotation. The satellite will be positioned at 132 degrees East longitude.

JSAT Corporation of Tokyo will add the spacecraft to its orbiting fleet of satellites that provide television broadcasting, data relay and other business services across the Asia-Pacific region and an extended reach to North America.

The 9,703-pound (4,399-kilogram) JCSAT 9 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is equipped with C- and Ku-band transponders, plus an S-band mobile communications package. The A2100-AX model craft has a service life of 12 years.

"The satellite launched today will join the nine satellites currently in the JSAT fleet. In addition to providing coverage for domestic and mobile communications customer bases, JCSAT 9 will cover an extensive area ranging from Hawaii and Oceania to countries across Southeast Asia," said Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems President Ted Gavrilis.

JCSAT 9 is the first of three satellites that Lockheed Martin is building for JSAT to launch over the next two years. This spacecraft became the 28th of Lockheed Martin's A2100 series delivered thus far.

"This is our second JSAT mission and our second consecutive launch of a Lockheed Martin satellite," said Rob Peckham, interim president and general manager of Sea Launch.

"We're delighted to have achieved another successful launch on behalf of both companies, and we look forward to future opportunities to contribute to your success. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our partners and contractors and the entire Sea Launch team for executing another outstanding Sea Launch mission."

Sea Launch deployed the Lockheed Martin-built EchoStar 10 broadcasting satellite in February. Wednesday's mission was the international company's second of six planned launches in 2006.