It had a mixed Ku-band and Ka-band payload and was expected replace Superbird-A at the position at 158° East longitude.
[6] Its propulsion system was composed of a liquid apogee engine (LAE) with a thrust of 445 N (100 lbf).
[6][4][5] Space Communications Corporation (SCC) was founded in 1985, the same year as the original companies that later formed JSAT.
This extreme perigee and a six-maneuvers circularization program would reduce the propellant expenditure to its final position in geosynchronous orbit.
[5][7] It was launched on 16 April 2004 by an Atlas IIAS that injected in the supersynchronous orbit specified by the satellite manufacturer, at which point it was named Superbird-A2.
But the orbit analysis had failed to take into consideration the influence of the Moon at such high apogees and the perigee started to drop dangerously fast.
Most of its propellant had to be spent and the solar panels suffered damage that reduced the power production.