MTSat 1R

Launch data: Designation  28622 / 05006A Launch date  26 Feb 2005 - 09:25 UT Launch site  Tanegashima Launch vehicle  H-2A (2022) Mission  Communications, Meteorology, Navigation Geostationary orbit on 6 Mar: Perigee / Apogee  35773 x 35793 km Inclination  0.11° Period  1435.91 min

Description:

MSAT 1R is a multi-role satellite, providing meteorological data for the Japanese Meteorological Agency and air-traffic control data for the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau.

The Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau will use MTSat to reduce en route aircraft separation, provide flexible flight profile planning, enhance air travel safety, and improve the quality of aeronautical communications. To that end, it will be positioned at an orbital slot of approximately 140 degrees east, and provide high quality digital voice and data communications in the L, Ku, and Ka bands.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency will use MTSat to provide observed cloud imagery and continuous weather products such as cloud and vapor distributions, cloud motion wind vector, sea surface temperature, and information on typhoon, low pressure, and front activity. MTSat also will receive raw data from data collection platforms on land and sea, deliver it to a processing station, and then broadcast the processed data and imagery across the region. It is the successor to the GMS 1-5 satellite series.

MTSat is based on SS/L’s standard LS-1300 three-axis, body stabilized spacecraft. It will use many of the state-of-the-art technologies developed for the current five satellite U.S. Geostationary Environmental Satellite program, called GOES I - M, for which SS/L is the prime contractor. MTSat will provide 10 years of service in its aeronautical mission and five years in its meteorological mission.