Mitsubishi Electric Successfully Launches Superbird-7, the First Japan-Made Commercial...

Mitsubishi Electric Successfully Launches Superbird-7, the First Japan-Made Commercial Communications Satellite

TOKYO--(Business Wire)--
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (President and CEO: Setsuhiro
Shimomura) announced today it has successfully launched Superbird-7,
which is Japan's first domestically produced commercial communications
satellite, and the next-generation communications satellite for Space
Communications Corporation (SCC).

Superbird-7 was successfully launched from Guiana Space Center,
French Guiana at 5:44 a.m. on August 15 (Japan time) using
Arianespace's launch vehicle, Ariane 5. The satellite separated from
the launcher at 6:09 a.m. and succeeded in spreading its solar paddle
at 7:02 a.m.

The Superbird-7 will be positioned into stationary orbit 36,000
kilometers above ground level and Mitsubishi Electric will continue
in-orbit testing until September 2008.

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Superbird-7 at a Glance
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Mass Approximately 5 tons (launch mass)
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Operational life 15 years
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Number of transponders 28 (Ku band)
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Orbital position 144 degrees east longitude
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Background

Superbird-7 was made at Mitsubishi Electric's Kamakura Works in
Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It uses Mitsubishi Electric's
original DS2000 satellite bus platform, which was developed based on
the Engineering Test Satellite-8 (ETS-8), made for the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency. The DS2000 is also currently used in the
Multi-functional Transport Satellite-2 (MTSAT-2), made for the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and
the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The well-equipped facilities at Kamakura Works have enabled
Mitsubishi Electric to efficiently conduct its production and system
tests in a single building, with a variety of testing facilities for
satellite production such as a space chamber that simulates the high
vacuum and extremely low temperatures of space, vibration test
equipment, an acoustic test room and a compact antenna testing range.
The Kamakura Works also has all the necessary satellite control
equipment to check the satellite performance and functions in
stationary orbit after the launch and separation of the launch
vehicle.

Details of the Superbird-7 Launch

The agreement with SCC is for a 'delivery in orbit' (DIO)
contract, in which Mitsubishi Electric will manage the project
entirely from satellite design, production and launch, installation of
satellite control equipment, to final extensive in-orbit testing prior
to final handover to the customer. Mitsubishi Electric will hand the
satellite over to SCC after the in-orbit testing and also, provide
full operational support during its 15 year-life span.

To date, all 18 satellites currently operated by Japanese
broadcast and communications companies have been US-made. Superbird-7
will be the first Japan-made commercial satellite to be launched into
orbit.

About Mitsubishi Electric

With over 80 years of experience in providing reliable,
high-quality products to both corporate clients and general consumers
all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) is a
recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing and sales of
electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and
communications, space development and satellite communications,
consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation
and building equipment. The company recorded consolidated group sales
of 4,049.8 billion yen (US$ 40.5 billion(a)) in the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008. For more information visit
http://global.mitsubishielectric.com

(a)At an exchange rate of 100 yen to the US dollar, the rate given
by the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2008

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Product Inquiries
Manabu Innami, +81-3-3218-9645
Commercial Space Programs Department
Innami.Manabu@aj.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp
Media Contact
Yurika Fujimoto, +81-3-3218-3380
Public Relations Division
prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp
http://global.mitsubishielectric.com/news/

Copyright Business Wire 2008