WINDS

WINDS (Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite, also known as Kizuna), was a Japanese communication satellite. Launch was originally scheduled for 2007. The launch date was eventually set for 15 February 2008, but a problem detected in a second stage maneuvering thruster delayed it to 23 February. Lift-off occurred at 08:55 GMT on 23 February from Tanegashima Space Center, and the satellite separated from its H-IIA carrier rocket into a Geosynchronous transfer orbit at 09:23. WINDS was used to relay the internet to Japanese homes and businesses through Ka-Band signals. It also tested technologies that would be utilised by future Japanese communication satellites. A part of Japan's i-Space program, WINDS was operated by JAXA and NICT.

WINDS (Kizuna)
Launch of WINDS (Kizuna) on H-IIA Flight 14.
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorJAXA/NICT
COSPAR ID2008-007A
SATCAT no.32500
WebsiteJAXA
Mission duration5 years (design)
Final: 11 years, 4 days
Spacecraft properties
BusNX-G[1]
ManufacturerNEC
Launch mass4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb)
BOL mass2,750 kilograms (6,060 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date23 February 2008, 08:55 (2008-02-23UTC08:55Z) UTC
RocketH-IIA
Launch siteTanegashima Y1
ContractorMitsubishi
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated27 February 2019, 06:54 (2019-02-27UTC06:55Z) UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude143° East
Semi-major axis42,164 kilometres (26,199 mi)
Perigee altitude35,784.1 kilometres (22,235.2 mi)
Apogee altitude35,803.8 kilometres (22,247.4 mi)
Inclination0.2 °
Period1,436.1 minutes
Epoch00:00:00 UTC 2016-08-31[2]
 

Prior to launch, a JAXA brochure claimed that WINDS will be able to provide 155 Mbit/s download speeds to home users with 45-centimetre diameter satellite dishes, while providing industrial users via 5-metre diameter dishes with 1.2 Gbit/s speeds.[3]

WINDS had a launch mass of 4,850 kg, reducing to a mass of around 2,750 kg after thrusting to its operational orbit. The spacecraft is 8 m x 3 m x 2 m in size, and its solar panels have a span of 21.5 metres. It has three-axis stabilisation, and a design life expectancy of five years.

The satellite became inoperable due to communications failure on 9 February 2019,[4] and it was decommissioned by the transmission of a deactivation command at 06:54 GMT on 27 February 2019.[5]

See also

References
  1. Kallender-Umezu, Paul (24 November 2014). "Japan's NEC Looks To Expand Commercial Market Footprint". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. "WINDS (KIZUNA)". N2YO.com. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. "JAXA - 超高速インターネット衛星―WINDS" (PDF). JAXA. 26 December 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  4. 「きずな」（WINDS）の運用状況について (in Japanese). JAXA. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  5. 超高速インターネット衛星「きずな」（WINDS）の運用終了について (in Japanese). JAXA. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.


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