Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the super high-speed Internet satellite "KIZUNA" (WINDS) by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 14 (H-IIA F14) at 5:55 p.m. on February 23, 2008 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle flew smoothly and, at about 28 minutes and 3 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the KIZUNA was confirmed. We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the KIZUNA aboard the H-IIA F14.

At the time of the launch, the weather was cloudy, wind speed was 15.2 m/second from the northeast and the temperature was 9.7 degrees Celsius.

The "KIZUNA" is a communications satellite that enables super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps to develop a society without any information availability disparity, in which everybody can equally enjoy high-speed communications wherever they live.
Using an antenna for South East Asian countries, we are aiming to achieve super high-speed communications with nations in the Asia/ Pacific region with which Japan has close ties.

Large-volume and high-speed communications provided by the KIZUNA (WINDS) are expected to be useful in various areas. For example, we will be able to contribute to "remote medicine" that enables everybody to receive sophisticated medical treatment regardless of time and location by transmitting clear images of the conditions of a patient to a doctor in an urban area from a remote area or island where few doctors are available. In academic and educational fields, schools and researchers in remote areas can exchange information easily. To help cope with disasters, information can be swiftly provided through space.

The Internet is now an integral part of our lives; but its infrastructure levels vary. In general, urban areas with a large population have a better Internet environment, whereas some mountainous regions and remote islands are not well-equipped with Internet infrastructure due to its costs.

The KIZUNA (WINDS) does not require costly ground equipment. If you install a small antenna (about 45 cm in diameter) at your house, you can receive data at up to 155 Mbps and transmit data at up to 6 Mbps. With a larger antenna of about 5 meters in diameter, super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps will be available. (Such a service is mainly for organizations and companies.)

Therefore, even in some areas where major ground infrastructure for the Internet is difficult to establish, people can enjoy the same level of Internet service as that in urban areas.

All Composite Images: courtesy of JAXA