Spaceflight Now | Atlas Launch Report | The Superbird 6 spacecraft

Mission Status

		Launch of the Lockheed Martin Atlas 2AS rocket is scheduled for Thursday evening from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 33-minute launch window opens at 8:45 p.m. EDT. Forecasters are predicting a 100 percent chance of favorable weather. Check the status center for complete coverage.

Mission Briefing

		Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch. Weather forecast - The latest forecast for launch day conditions. Launch hazard area - The restricted area during liftoff. Ground track - See the trajectory the rocket will follow during its flight. Orbit insertion - Illustration of Superbird 6's trek to geostationary orbit. Superbird 6 - Overview of the Japanese satellite payload. Atlas 2AS vehicle data - Description of rocket being used in this launch. Atlas directory - See our coverage of previous Atlas rocket flights.

NewsAlert

		Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop. Enter your e-mail address: Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.

The Superbird 6 spacecraft
BSS FACT SHEET
Posted: April 11, 2004

An artist's concept of Superbird 6 in orbit. Credit: Boeing Satellite Systems

Space Communications Corporation (SCC), a Japanese satellite communications service company, ordered Superbird 6, a Boeing 601 communications satellite, from Boeing Satellite Systems in September 2001. It is the third Boeing satellite to be built for SCC. Superbird 6 is scheduled to launch in the spring of 2004 on an Atlas 2AS launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida.

Superbird 6, slated for an orbital slot at 158.0 degrees East longitude, will provide business telecommunication services to Japan in Ku-Band and Ka-Band and will provide additional Ka-Band services using a Steerable Spot Beam. The satellite has a payload of 23 active Ku-Band transponders and four Ka-Band transponders.

The first Superbird spacecraft built by Boeing Satellite Systems, Superbird C, was launched in July 1997. Then, Superbird 4(B2) was launched in February 2000.

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO), and other Mitsubishi Group Companies established Space Communications Corporation of Tokyo, Japan in 1985.

Superbird is the name of the series of high-performance communications satellites owned and operated by SCC. SCC now operates four communications satellites named Superbird A, B2, C, and D at four orbital slots, by which SCC is providing stable and high quality telecommunication services to a wide range of customers.

Boeing Satellite Systems is major provider of space systems, communications satellites, and payloads for national defense, science, environmental and commercial applications.

Soviet Space

For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Viking patch

This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo 7 DVD

For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Gemini 12

Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo patches

The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo patches

The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
U.S. STORE

Expedition 16 crew patch

The official embroidered patch of the International Space Station Expedition 16 crew is now available to U.S. customers from our store.

U.S. STORE

Columbus mission patch

The official astronaut embroidered patch of Atlantis' STS-122 mission that launched the Columbus science lab in February is available to U.S. customers from our store.

U.S. STORE

Project Orion

The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.

U.S. STORE

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD

This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.

Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE