WINDS

{{Short description|Defunct Japanese communication satellite}}

{{Distinguish|Wind (spacecraft)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = WINDS (Kizuna)

| image = H-IIA F14 launching KIZUNA.jpg

| image_caption = Launch of WINDS (Kizuna) on H-IIA Flight 14.

| mission_type = Communication

| operator = JAXA/NICT

| website = [http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/winds/index_e.html JAXA]

| COSPAR_ID = 2008-007A

| SATCAT = 32500

| mission_duration = 5 years (design)
Final: {{time interval|23 February 2008 08:55|27 February 2019 06:54|show= yd|sep=,}}

| spacecraft_bus = NX-G

| manufacturer = NEC

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|4850|kg|lb}}

| BOL_mass = {{convert|2750|kg|lb}}

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|23 February 2008, 08:55|tz=y}} UTC

| launch_rocket = H-IIA

| launch_site = Tanegashima Y1

| launch_contractor = Mitsubishi

| entered_service =

| disposal_type = Decommissioned

| deactivated = {{end-date|27 February 2019, 06:54|tz=y}} UTC

| orbit_epoch = 00:00:00 UTC 2016-08-31

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35784.1|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35803.8|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 0.2 °

| orbit_period = 1,436.1 minutes

| orbit_semimajor ={{convert|42164|km|mi}}

| orbit_longitude = 143° East

| orbit_slot =

| apsis = gee

| trans_band =

| trans_frequency =

| trans_bandwidth =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage =

| trans_TWTA =

| trans_EIRP =

| trans_HPBW =

}}

WINDS (Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite, also known as Kizuna), was a Japanese communication satellite. Launch was originally scheduled for 2007.

Launch

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.

Purpose

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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/brochure/pdf/04/sat07.pdf|title=JAXA - 超高速インターネット衛星―WINDS|publisher=JAXA|access-date=2008-02-23|date=2007-12-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228013051/http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/brochure/pdf/04/sat07.pdf|archive-date=2008-02-28}}

Specs

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.

Decommission

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

See also

References

{{reflist|2|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=32500 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831201003/http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=32500 |archive-date=2016-08-31 |title=WINDS (KIZUNA) |publisher=N2YO.com |date=August 31, 2016 |access-date=2016-08-31}}

{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/42644japans-nec-looks-to-expand-commercial-market-footprint/ |title=Japan's NEC Looks To Expand Commercial Market Footprint |last=Kallender-Umezu |first=Paul |date=November 24, 2014 |access-date=2016-08-31}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/project/winds/news/2019/190213.html |language=ja |script-title=ja:「きずな」(WINDS)の運用状況について |publisher=JAXA |date=13 February 2019 |access-date=6 March 2019}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2019/03/20190301a_j.html |language=ja |script-title=ja: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 |publisher=JAXA |date=1 March 2019 |access-date=6 March 2019}}

}}