Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
22:52:00
Tuesday December 2, 1997
Flight V103.
Equator-S is an element of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) program. Spacecraft design, manufacturing, and testing were provided by the Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE). The project was financially supported by DARA (Deutsche Agentur fur Raumfahrt Angelegenheiten). The Equator-S objectives are to provide high-resolution plasma, magnetic, and electric field measurements in several regions not adequately covered by the existing ISTP missions, namely the low-latitude dayside magnetopause and its boundary layer, the equatorial ring current region, and the near-earth equatorial plasma sheet. These regions play key roles in our understanding of the global perspective of solar-terrestrial relations as well as the detailed plasmaphysical processes.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
1 Payload
250 kilograms
JCSAT-1B, known as JCSAT-5 before launch, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SKY Perfect JSAT Group (JSAT) which was designed and manufactured by Hughes (now Boeing) on the HS-601 platform. It has a pure Ku band payload and was used to replace JCSAT-1 at the 150°East longitude. It covers Japan, Korea, most of China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, part of Indonesia, part of Malaysia, and Hawaii.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
1 Payload
2,982 kilograms
Manufacturer
ESARocket
Diameter: 3.8m
Height: 58.72m
Payload to Orbit
GTO: 3,460 kg
Liftoff Thrust
4,334 Kilonewtons
Stages
3
Strap-ons
4
73rd
Mission
10th
Mission of 1997
92nd
Mission
10th
Mission of 1997
78th
Orbital launch attempt