From: James Beitchman
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 3:08 PM
To: COMARA
Subject: Comsat Range processor still in service in Japan
As you know my company JGB Consult still does most of its business in the Japan – US satellite telecommunications market (5 trips to Japan already this year). I have an ongoing business relationship with Space Communications Corporation (SCC). Last week in the course of developing a new project, for the fist time since the center opened about 1987, I visited the SCC Satellite Control Center in Ibaraki about 80 miles from Tokyo. There I saw a reminder of my own and Comsat’s past. Still in service with Superbird A2 is the Comsat Laboratories Range Processor unit that I sold to them in 1986 or 87. As you may recall, I was stationed in Tokyo for Comsat from 1985 to1989 (followed by 8 years with Hughes in Tokyo) and the sale of this Range Processor built by the Labs (if you look hard, you can see the Labs logo in the lower right hand corner) was my first hardware sale in the country.
Superbird A2 is still in inclined orbit service, having been launched in 1992 after the early failure of Superbird A launched in 1989, and the Range Processor remains in operation as a primary part of the satellite control system. When I asked SCC how they managed to keep the device maintained, they said it was a struggle, but their own people figured out the design and operation and have been able to keep it going without assistance. The device will stay I service until Superbird A3 is launched in 2008 or 2009.
As the photo show, the Range Processor looks just as it did when I watched the installation in 1987, but the salesman has changed somewhat.
Feel free to use this info on the Website or in the bulletin.
Regards,
Buzz
