Experiment programme for the Japanese communications satellite

The mission objectives, progress of the program, characteristics of spacecraft, launch sequence and earth stations, and planned experiment of the Japanese medium-capacity communications satellite for experimental purpose (CS) are described. This satellite has two C-band (6/4 GHz), six K-band (30/20 GHz) communication transponders and a high-gain shaped-beam despun antenna. The bandwidth of each channel is about 200 MHz. The CS will be launched by a U.S. Delta 2914 launch vehicle in middle of December, 1977, and located at 135 E longitude in a geostationary orbit. The ground system consists of three fixed and several transportable stations and associated facilities. Particular attention is paid to the experiments and development of quasi-millimeter wave communication systems via this satellite for foreseen needs.