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Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyLaunch SuccessfulCommunicationsH-IIA 2024
Launched 2008-02-23 08:55 UTCYoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1, Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Success
Reached Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Worldwide
7th
orbital launch attempt in 2008
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
1st
launch this year
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
162 d 7 h
since the pad's previous launch
WINDS, also called Kizuna, is currently under joint development by JAXA and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, as part of the e-Japan Priority Policy Program of the Japanese government's IT strategy headquarters. WINDS was launched by an H-IIA Launch Vehicle in 2008 to establish the world's most advanced information and telecommunications network.
It is expected that this information and telecommunications network's speed and capacity will be much higher than anything achieved previously. The WINDS satellite communication system aims for a maximum speed of 155 Mbps (receiving) / 6 Mbps (transmitting) for households with 45-centimeter aperture antennas (the same size as existing Communications Satellite antennas), and ultra-fast 1.2 Gbps transmission for offices with five-meter antennas.
Launch Provider
Government · Japan · Founded 2003 · Administrator Hiroshi Yamakawa
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aero-space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon. JAXA launch their Epsilon vehicle from the Uchinoura Space Center and their H-II vehicles from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Launches
37
Successful
33
89%
Upcoming
2
scheduled
Height
53m
Diameter
4m
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ETS-9Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · H3-22 · Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, JapanGeostationary Transfer OrbitTo be determinedNET 2026
IGS Optical Diversification 1Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · H3-30 · Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2, Tanegashima Space Center, JapanSun-Synchronous OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD