# Sakura

> Japanese communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q6117043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6117043)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sakura

## Summary
Sakura is a Japanese communications satellite launched in late 1977. It is an artificial satellite specifically designed for telecommunications and is also known by the alias "Communications Satellite."

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Communications satellite (artificial satellite designed for telecommunications).
- **Launch Date:** December 15, 1977.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta 2000 (American expendable launch system).
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 10516.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1977-118A.
- **Instance of:** Artificial satellite.
- **Technical Identifiers:** Wolfram Language Entity["Satellite", "10516"] and Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/120pgvfj.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Sakura satellite?
A: Sakura is a communications satellite designed for telecommunications. It functions as an artificial satellite placed in orbit to facilitate various communication signals.

### Q: When and where was Sakura launched?
A: Sakura was launched on December 15, 1977. The launch took place at the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 in the United States.

### Q: What rocket was used to put Sakura into orbit?
A: The satellite was launched using a Delta 2000 series rocket. The Delta 2000 is a specific series of American expendable launch systems.

### Q: What are the official tracking IDs for Sakura?
A: Sakura is identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 10516 and the COSPAR ID 1977-118A. These identifiers are used by international organizations to track and catalog the object in space.

## Why It Matters
Sakura represents a significant historical milestone in Japan's orbital telecommunications capabilities. Launched in 1977, it serves as a primary example of early Japanese efforts to establish a presence in the communications satellite class. The mission's reliance on the Delta 2000 launch vehicle—an American expendable launch system—highlights the international cooperation required for space exploration and satellite deployment during that era. 

The satellite's deployment from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 marked a key event in the timeline of Japanese aerospace history. By serving as an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications, Sakura contributed to the technical foundation of satellite-based networks. Its technical data is preserved across multiple global platforms, including the Wolfram Language and the Google Knowledge Graph, and it is documented in at least six different languages on Wikipedia, including Japanese, Spanish, and Polish. This widespread documentation underscores its relevance to the history of space flight and the development of global telecommunications infrastructure. For researchers and historians, Sakura provides a verifiable data point for the performance and utility of the Delta 2000 series and the early evolution of Japanese satellite technology.

## Notable For
- **International Collaboration:** A Japanese satellite launched using an American Delta 2000 expendable launch system.
- **Historical Launch Site:** Deployed from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Recognized and documented across six different Wikipedia language editions (es, gl, hu, ja, pl, pt).
- **Standardized Identification:** Tracked under the permanent Satellite Catalog Number 10516 and COSPAR ID 1977-118A.

## Body

### Classification and Purpose
Sakura is categorized as a communications satellite. This class of entity is defined as an artificial satellite designed specifically for telecommunications. Within technical databases, it is also identified by the alias "Communications Satellite."

### Launch Mission Details
The launch of Sakura occurred on December 15, 1977. This event is classified as a significant rocket launch. The mission originated from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The vehicle responsible for transporting the satellite into orbit was the Delta 2000, which belongs to a series of American expendable launch systems.

### Technical Specifications and Tracking
Sakura is assigned several unique identifiers for scientific and astronomical tracking:
*   **SCN:** 10516
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1977-118A
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120pgvfj
*   **Wolfram Language Code:** Entity["Satellite", "10516"]

### Global Recognition
The satellite maintains a presence in international knowledge bases with a sitelink count of 6. Information regarding the satellite is available in the following languages:
*   Japanese (ja)
*   Spanish (es)
*   Polish (pl)
*   Portuguese (pt)
*   Hungarian (hu)
*   Galician (gl)

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report