Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kirari

 2005-031A


NASDA's Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite was to be launched by a J-1 in 1998 to LEO. It will demonstrate laser satellite-to-satellite links and pointing and tracking technology. Launch was delayed since the pad was needed for other launches. Eventually J-1 was cancelled and the satellite was finally launched by a Russian Dnepr in 2005. OICETS was renamed Kirari ('glitter') after launch.

The 8194/8474A laser system will be used to communicate with Artemis. An S-band link will be used to DRTS and the ground.

Size is 0.8 x 1.1 x 2.5m, box + 2 panels 9.4m span. Mass 570 kg. Orbit will be 550 x 610 x 97. Control from Tsukuba.

OICETS carries out a high precision acquisition and tracking experiment with Artemis; the optical inter-orbit comms experiment using LUCE, with Artemis; and evaluation of the optical components and of the vibration environment.

In Dec 2005 it made the first 2-way lasercom signal exchange with Artemis.

The Dnepr final stage carried a capsule with commemorative objects for Turkmenistan.


OICETS 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

2005 Aug 23  2109:59  Launch by Dnepr  KB LC109 
  T+1:49 St 1 sep 
  T+1:52 St 2 MES 
  T+4:26? St 2 MECO 
  T+4:36? GO sep 
  T+4:41? St 2 VECO 
  T+4:41 St 2 sep  -1000 x 350 ?  
  T+4:44 St 3 burn 
  T+4:57 Low thrust regime?
  St 2 impact Pacific 45E 32S? 
 2121? T+11? St 3 MECO 
 2125:09  T+15:10 St 3 fairing/plume sep 
 2125:13 T+15:14 OICETS sep 
 2125:15 T+15:16 adapter sep 
 2125:17 T+15:18 Index sep 
  T+25:35 Solar arrays deploy  
 2126:03  T+16:04 St 3 depletion 
2004 Nov 24  One reaction wheel failed 
2005 Dec 9   Two-way laser com with ARTEMIS 
2006 Apr 20  Reaction wheel reactivated 
2009 Sep 24   end of mission 

Payload:

  • LUCE Laser-utilizing Comms Experiment

  • MVE Micro Vibration Equipment - studies stability of laser comms

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