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No. 0487
October 29, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Katsuyuki Hashimoto/Matthew Nicholson
PR Dept.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
03-3218-2346
Katsuyuki.Hashimoto@hq.melco.co.jp
Matthew.Nicholson@hq.melco.co.jp
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC COMPLETES
JAPAN'S LARGEST PRIVATELY-OWNED SATELLITE ASSEMBLY AND TESTING
PLANT
TOKYO, October 29, 1999 -- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
(President: Ichiro Taniguchi) announced that as part of its move towards
full-scale participation in the commercial satellite business, construction
has been completed of a new plant at its Kamakura Works for the assembly
and testing of satellites. Kamakura Works has more than 30 years experience
in the space industry, and has manufactured and sold more satellites
than any other Japanese factory.
The new plant incorporates a space chamber for
testing under conditions simulating the severe environment found
in space, and a compact antenna test range for systematic measurement
and evaluation of communication system performance, giving it the
following capabilities:
- Full satellite production cycle from design
to assembly and testing.
- Production time and cost reductions achieved
by integrating production and testing within the same plant.
- Product quality and work efficiency enhancements
achieved through a high-speed LAN enabling computer and information
network construction.
1. Main Facilities and Features
(1) Building
One basement level and five levels above
ground provide 4,554 square meters of usable floor area in a
building reaching a height of 23.8m (eaves height 22.9m) with
a 2,483 square-meter footprint. It is designed with sufficient
strength not to collapse in an earthquake of intensity 6 to
7 on the Japanese scale.
(2) Space Chamber
The space chamber enables a low temperature
and high vacuum environment to be simulated inside a large vacuum
vessel, and is used for pre-launch performance testing of satellites.
- 11.5 m diameter and 11 m length makes
this the largest space chamber in Japan apart from the NASDA
chamber.
- Independent temperature control of six
zones enables simulation of a variety of space temperature conditions
without needing to utilize special equipment.
- The chamber design as a horizontally-oriented
cylinder with a sliding main door and flat floor greatly simplifies
satellite handling and test setup.
(3) Compact Antenna Test Range
- The compact antenna test range is used
to test satellite systems and the functionality of each of the
different types of antenna.
- The spacious test range measures 20 m
X 30 m X 16 m, and has a main reflector of 7.5 m X 6.0 m, a
sub reflector of 5.6 m X 5.3 m, and a 5 m diameter test zone,
making it the largest compact test range in Japan.
- Test frequency range of 1.5 to 100 GHz
enables testing at a wide range of different frequencies.
- The test zone can be shifted left and
right to facilitate test setup.
- High performance shielding enables the
range to be used for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing.
2. Background to Construction
The market for spacecraft -- satellite and rockets
-- forms the bulk of the space industry, and spacecraft for commercial
use is a part of that international market that is growing rapidly.
Mitsubishi Electric has participated in a very
large number of international satellite projects ever since INTELSAT
in 1968, supplying on-board equipment such as transponders and solar
panels.
Mitsubishi Electric's entry into satellite systems
is the result of several years of preparation. It was decided that
having a large-scale testing facility was essential to compete with
European and US manufacturers' clear superiority in cost and delivery
time, and this decision led to the start of construction in August
1998.
The completion of the new plant and the recent
order for large communications satellites from Cable & Wireless
Optus provide the opportunity for Mitsubishi Electric to intensify
its work towards receiving satellite system contracts.
# # #
About Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation
With more than 75 years of experience in providing
reliable, high-quality products to both corporate clients and general
consumers all over the world, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 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 construction. With operations in 34 countries, Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation recorded consolidated group sales of over US$31 billion
in 1999, 37% of which was from the Information, Telecommunication
and Electronic Systems and Devices segment. Additional information
on Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is available at global.mitsubishielectric.com.
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