Japanese Solar Sail and Large antenna experiments

[suzuka]

Some large-scale structures are tested by Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) within several months.<br /><br /><br /><font color="orange"><b>S-310-36 Experiments</b></font><br /><br /><b>Launch: 22nd/Jan/2006 13:00 (JST)</b><br /><br />Mother-Daughter satellites will be launched into suborbital using S-310 rocket No.36 for the following experiments.<br /><br /> 1.Net deployment using daughter satellites<br /><br /> Three daughter satellites are ejected from the mother satellite using repulsive force of springs. Then daughter satellites extract folded net moving toward to their home position. The net is 20m triangle. The net dynamics will be measured using satellites sensors and cameras. <br />ISSL Mission<br /><br /> 2.Forming an active phased array antenna using mother-daughter satellites<br /><br /> Each satellite equips with a micro wave transmitter. These transmitter form a phased array antenna by controlling their phase using pilot signal from a ground station. The characteristics of this antenna will be obtained. Kaya Laboratory, KOBE University mission <br /><br /> 3.Relative Attitude Control<br /><br /> Daughter satellites control their position and attitude to maintain the net shape using camera image, range sensor and INS. They also keep net tension for robot crawling. <br />ISSL advanced mission<br /><br /> 4.Spider type robots are crawling on the net<br /><br /> Small robots(1kg) get around on the net. ESA and NASA each prepare their robot. <br />ESA,NASA advanced mission<br /><br /><br />These techniques are aimed to apply to the following in the future. <br /><br /> 1.Large solar power plant <br /> 2.Large antenna <br /> 3.Radiator <br /> 4.Debris removal <br /><br />http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/s310/index-e.html<br /><br />Flash report page for the launch<br /><br />http://www.esa.int/esaCP</safety_wrapper <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p>I HOPE that a space budget grows more.<br /><img id="13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a.Large.gif" alt="blog post photo" /> </p><div><br /> </div> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

I hope they go forward with the solar sail mission to Jupiter. That is the most exiting one to me. I'm glad to see Japan trying out new things that NASA is not doing. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mlorrey]

Of course NASA isn't doing these sorts of things, the moniker "umbrella man" is far less cool than "shuttle guy" ... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[pocket_rocket]

Those spider bots sound pretty cool if they can work all the bugs out.

 

[nacnud]

<font color="yellow">Those spider bots sound pretty cool if they can work all the bugs out.<br /><br /><font color="white">Groan <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /></font></font>

 

[suzuka]

<b>S-310-36 Experiments</b><br /><br />The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), The University of Tokyo, and Kobe University launched S310 No.36 small rocket from the Uchinoura Space Center at 1:00PM January 22, were deployed the installed antenna in space, and succeeded in the communication experiment.<br /><br />The movement and control of the mother satellite and the daughter satellite were normal. And, it confirmed that a net was deployed as planned. As for the Active Phased Array Antenna experiment, excellent data were acquired, and it was confirmed that array antenna worked normally. Moreover, the movement of the spider robot was confirmed. <br /><br />Press release (Japanese)<br /><br /><br />The photograph of 1 and 2 shows the daughter satellite to begin to pull the net though the quality of the photograph is not good. <br />The photograph of 3 was taken from one of the daughter satellites. The mother satellite and two daughter satellites are taken of a picture against the background of the earth.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p>I HOPE that a space budget grows more.<br /><img id="13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a.Large.gif" alt="blog post photo" /> </p><div><br /> </div> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<i>"Those spider bots sound pretty cool if they can work all the bugs out."</i><br /><br />Spiders <b>eat</b> bugs! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thinice]

<i>Moreover, the movement of the spider robot was confirmed.</i><br />I wonder whose spider won, NASA's or ESA's? <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[yurkin]

Thanks Suzuka<br /><br />Have you heard anything about Lunar-A, Planet-C or Selene?<br />

 

[centsworth_II]

<i>"I wonder whose spider won, NASA's or ESA's?"</i><br /><br />Isn't JAXA (Japan) the only agency with spiders in the race? I guess they win by default. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thinice]

As far as I understood from suzuka's post, JAXA didn't make their own robot.

 

[centsworth_II]

Ah, I see. But it looks to me like only ESA spiderbots were invoved in the JAXA launch. <br />http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHVXVLWFE_index_0.html<br />http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8466<br /><br />NASA seems to have its own plans for spider bots.<br />http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/spider_bot_030129.html<br /><br />I didn't see any article describing a NASA/JAXA mission similar to the ESA/JAXA one. Or a mission involving all three agencies. Is NASA playing the lone wolf or did I miss something? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[suzuka]

SELENE will be launched in FY2007.<br /><br />MOON STATION<br />CG VIDEO<br /><br /><br />PLANET-C will be launched in May 2010.<br /><br />http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/top_english.html<br />http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/<br /><br /><br />As for Lunar-A, in the exhibition of ISAS, I heard that the countermeasures of trouble of the penetrator might be completed in this summer. However, the launch schedule seems not to be decided.<br />And M-V No.2 for Lunar-A was used to launch ASTRO-E2 last year. Therefore, Lunar-A cannot be launched as long as the rocket is not newly ordered. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p>I HOPE that a space budget grows more.<br /><img id="13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a.Large.gif" alt="blog post photo" /> </p><div><br /> </div> </div>

 

[suzuka]

<b>McDonald's straw flies over space</b><br /><br />The movement of the deployment of the net was released as a video.<br />A large amount of McDonald's straws were used to protect the connection node of the net.<br /><br />MPEG VIDEO <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p>I HOPE that a space budget grows more.<br /><img id="13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a.Large.gif" alt="blog post photo" /> </p><div><br /> </div> </div>

 

[pocket_rocket]

McDonalds straws?<br />I'm wondering, when the straws were purchased, did anyone ask 'you want fries with that?'.<br /><br />

 

[hiro2002]

>>when the straws were purchased, did anyone ask 'you want fries with that?'. <br /><br />Team member asked an office of Mc'Donald "plsease send 100 straws. We use it for research in space".<br /><br /><br />http://www.rikai.com/perl/LangMediator.En.pl?mediate_uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffuture%2Eway%2Dnifty%2Ecom%2Freiland%2F2005%2F09%2Fpost%5Fedc5%2Ehtml<br />(Japanese page for Suzuka(^_^ Translator can't be available)<br />

 

[suzuka]

Launch of M-V-8 is scheduled at 6:28 a.m. on February 22(JST).<br />A main purpose of M-V-8 rocket is a launch of infrared astronomy satellite "ASTRO F".<br />The solar sail will be installed instead of the weight (about 10kg) to balance.<br />After ASTRO F is separated, the experiment is done at an altitude of about 300km.<br /><br />Live Broadcast from Uchinoura Space Center of ISAS (JAXA) is here.<br /><br />http://jaxa.tv<br />tepco Hikari(240kbps)<br />ASTRO-F/M-V-8 Countdown<br /><br />Time Schedule<br />[JST] 5:30 - 6:55, Tue., Feb. 22.<br />[GMT] 20:30 - 21:55, Mon., Feb. 21<br />[EST] 15:30 - 16:55, Mon., Feb. 21<br /><br />I do not know whether the deployment experiment of Solar Sail is included in a live broadcasting. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p>I HOPE that a space budget grows more.<br /><img id="13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/3/13/13d0b3c4-c5bc-4a2d-ad5c-33562f04976a.Large.gif" alt="blog post photo" /> </p><div><br /> </div> </div>