ETS-7

Japan

Spacecraft nº:

Japanese spacecraft nº: 85

Also called Kiku 7, the two units are called Orihime and Hikoboshi

Launch data:

Designation	25064 / 97074B
Launch date	27 Nov 1997
Launch site	Tanegashima
Launch vehicle	H-2 (#5)
Mission	Experimental
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee	550 km
Inclination	35°
Period

ETS 7 is composed of a chase satellite and a target satellite. Its objectives are to carry out experiments to confirm the basic technologies for rendezvous-docking and space robotics. It will enable future Japanese supply missions to dock reliably with the International Space Station.

Success in orbit will be reliant on an internal navigation system which contains three sensors. A GPS receiver will be used to compute the relative positions and speeds of the separated satellite units from 10 km out to the 600 meter final approach stage. The rendezvous laser radar (LR) will then take over, computing the target satellite's position and azimuth from 660 to 2 meters, whereupon the proximity sensor will make final attitude and positional adjustments. Of the three sensing systems, the LR and the proximity sensor represent cutting-edge technology.

Had solar pannel problems right after launch. This was solved quickly but an automatic shutdown occured on Nov 30. In Aug 1999 it was reported that the target had once been successfully released and automatically regrabbed by the robot. Two others rendezvous & docking were performed correctly and several other experiments including remote-piloting and collision-avoidance were performed.

The satellite achieved: automatic rendezvous and docking of two unmanned satellites, remotely controlled rendezvous from the Earth station, satellite-borne robot systema and automatic capture of a satellite with a robot arm.

End of life

Out of service	Dec 1999
Cause	end of mission
Decay	13 Nov 2015

Sub satellite

Target - Orihime
Designation: 25424 / 97074E
Transmits on 2.22 GHz

End of life

Out of service	Dec 1999
Cause	end of mission
Decay	13 Nov 2015

Specifications:

Prime contractor	Toshiba
Platform
Mass at launch	2950 kg (chaser: 2540 kg, target: 410 kg)
Mass in orbit
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power

Will use Comets to demonstrate inter-orbit links. Transmits on 2.27699 & 2.04425 GHz

The docking system was developed by Mitsubishi.

Ref.: #3(SD517) - update: 14.02.16

Home