Michibiki (Launched with H-2A Sept. 11, 2010)

[Zipi]

Launch window: 11:17-12:16 GMT (7:17-8:16 am EDT)
Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan

The Japanese H-2A rocket will launch the Michibiki navigation satellite. Also called the Quasi-Zenith Satellite, Michibiki will enhance GPS navigation signals in Japanese urban areas and mountainous terrain. The H-2A rocket will fly in the 202 configuration with two large solid rocket boosters and no smaller motors.

Live Stream: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f18/live/index_e.html
JAXA's Michibiki Page: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f18/index_e.html
JAXA's Michibiki Overview Page: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f18/overvi ... iki_e.html
JAxA's Michibiki Q&A: http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f18/special/faq_e.html
JAXA's Michibiki Pamphlet: http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/brochure/pdf/04/sat12.pdf

Official Michibiki mascot character.

H-IIA Launch Vehicle

H-IIA Launch Services: http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/
H-IIA Launch Vehicle Page: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/index_e.html
H-IIA Design: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/design_e.html
H-IIA General Cutout Image: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/zoom1_e.html
H-IIA Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-IIA
JAXA's H-2A Pamphlet: http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/brochure/pdf/01/rocket01.pdf
H-IIA Brochure: http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/brochure/pdf/01/rocket01.pdf

Above image is from previous launch since I couldn't find updated one. But H-2A is at the same configuration except payload part.

H-IIA First Stage

One LE-7A engine burning LOX/LH[sub]2[/sub].

LE-7 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LE-7
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries LE-7A Page: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/detail ... le-7a.html
MHI's LE-7 Structural Design: http://www.mhi.co.jp/technology/review/ ... 316423.pdf (mostly in Japanese)
Astronautix LE-7 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/le7.htm
LE-7 Videos: http://www.google.com/search?q=LE-7+roc ... CEgQqwQwCQ

Thrust (vacuum): 112 ton
Isp (vacuum): 440sec
Weight: 1,980kg
Length: 3,670mm

H-IIA Boosters

For this launch two Castor IVA-XL (4AXL) solid rocket boosters.

Castor Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_(rocket_stage)
ATK's H-IIA Booster Page: http://www.atk.com/Customer_Solutions_S ... _H-IIA.asp
ATK Propulsion Product Catalog 2008: http://www.ltas-vis.ulg.ac.be/cmsms/upl ... lidATK.pdf
Astronautix Castor 4 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/castor4.htm
Castor 4 Specs from Space And Tech: http://www.spaceandtech.com/spacedata/m ... pecs.shtml



H-IIA Second Stage

One LE-5B engine burning LOX/LH[sub]2[/sub].

LE-5B Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LE-5B
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries LE-5B Page: http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/products/detail ... le-5b.html
Astronautix LE-5B Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/le5b.htm

Thrust (vacuum): 14 ton
Isp (vacuum): 449sec
Weight: 285kg
Length: 2,765mm

Tanegashima Space Center

JAXA Tanegashima Space Center Page: http://www.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/index_e.html
JAXA Tanegashima Web Cam: http://space.jaxa.jp/tnsc/webcam/index_e.shtml
JAXA Tanegashima Layout: http://www.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/map_e.html
Visiting Tanegashima Space Center: http://www.jaxa.jp/about/centers/tnsc/traffic_e.html
Tanegashima Livecam: http://space.jaxa.jp/tnsc/webcam/index_e.shtml
Google Maps link for Tanegashima Space Center: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=16

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 11 H-2A - Michibiki

It's already launched :

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Japan readies navigation satellite for launch

BY STEPHEN CLARK

Posted: September 11, 2010

An H-2A rocket is fueled on the launch pad for blastoff Saturday with a spacecraft to improve satellite navigation services in Japan's cities and rural mountains.

The 174-foot-tall rocket is scheduled to lift off at 1117 GMT (7:17 a.m. EDT) Saturday from Launch Pad No. 1 at the Yoshinobu complex on Tanegashima Island, the site of Japan's primary spaceport off the southern coast of the main islands.

The launch will occur at 8:17 p.m. Japanese time. The launch window extends for 59 minutes.

It will take 28 minutes, 26 seconds for the H-2A rocket to deliver the Michibiki satellite to orbit.

Below are some photos taken about 13 hours before liftoff as the H-2A rocket rolled from Tanegashima's Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad.

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Photo credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Michibiki Ready to Launch
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGHaWL7qlZE[/youtube]

issmania9 : 9/11/2010
H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 launch with the first quasi-zenith satellite MICHIBIKI onboard.

Michibiki Launched
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOBkx9W6Xr0[/youtube]

issmania9 : 9/11/2010
H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.18 launch with the first quasi-zenith satellite MICHIBIKI onboard.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 11 H-2A - Michibiki

Official launch video, HD :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8jP4xI9gOk[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Flight Status

September 12, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the deployment of the solar array paddles of the quasi-zenith satellite "MICHIBIKI" through telemetry data received at the Santiago Station, Chile. MICHIBIKI was launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 18 from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:17 p.m. on September 11, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST.)

Solar array generation power: 6.7kW (Specification: over 6.4kW).

The satellite is in good health.

(Next information release schedule)
We plan to announce the orbit calculation results and the schedule of the first apogee engine firing for the MICHIBIKI at around 7:00 a.m. on Sept. 12 (JST) on the following special site.
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f18/index_e.html

From Michibiki Special Site :
http://www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Result of the First Apogee Engine Firing (pdf)

September 12, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performed the first apogee engine firing (AEF) of the first quasi-zenith satellite “MICHIBIKI” for 67 minutes from 12:02 p.m. on September 12, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) by sending commands from Perth station in Australia.
We have confirmed that the first AEF was successfully carried out through telemetry sent from the satellite.
The satellite is in good health.

 

[EarthlingX]

www.jaxa.jp : Result of the Second Apogee Engine Firing (pdf)

September 13, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performed the second apogee engine firing (AEF) of the first quasi-zenith satellite “MICHIBIKI” for 88 minutes from 1:26 p.m. on September 13, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) by sending commands from the Okinawa station in Japan.

We have confirmed that the second AEF was successfully carried out through telemetry sent from the satellite.

The satellite is in good health.

 

[EarthlingX]

www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Result of the Third Apogee Engine Firing (pdf)

September 14, 2010 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA ) performed the third apogee engine firing (AEF) of the first quasi-zenith satellite “MICHIBIKI” for about 7 minutes from 12:21 p.m. on September 14, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) by sending commands from the Okinawa station in Japan.

We have confirmed that the third AEF was successfully carried out through telemetry sent from the satellite.

The satellite is in good health.

 

[MeteorWayne]

A little repetative with the text on the last 3 posts, eh EX? As in exactly the same for 3 posts in a row...

 

[EarthlingX]

A little repetative with the text on the last 3 posts, eh EX? As in exactly the same for 3 posts in a row...

Three firings .. Clue word's : 'First, second, third'.

They were also all successful, which makes insurance companies happy.

 

[EarthlingX]

MICHIBIKI/H-IIA F18 Quick Review :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3joBfk0TZk[/youtube]

jaxachannel | September 14, 2010
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.18 with the first quasi-zenith satellite "MICHIBIKI" onboard was launched at 8:17 p.m. on September 11 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Result of the Drift Orbit Injection

September 18, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been conducting operations to inject the first quasi-zenith satellite “MICHIBIKI” into the drift orbit by firing its apogee engine five times until September 17, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST) since it entered into the first transfer orbit on September 11, 2010 (JST).
As a result of orbit calculation after the fifth apogee engine firing, the MICHIBIKI was confirmed to be injected into the following scheduled drift orbit. (Please refer to the attachment below.)

Drift orbit * Schedule *
Apogee altitude 38,974km ( 38,975km)
Perigee altitude 32,071km ( 32,051km)
Orbit inclination 41.0degrees ( 41.0degrees)
Period 23h 43m (23h 42m)
Drift rate 3.5degrees/day (3.6degrees/day)

The satellite is in good health.

We will shift from the attitude control mode to the regular control mode by turning the orientation of the positioning antenna, which will be used in the regular control mode, to the Earth.
We plan to announce the results of shifting to the regular control mode at around 11:30 p.m. on September 19 (JST).

(Note)
- Drift rate Satellite’s moving speed to the longitudinal direction when looking from the earth.
- Transfer orbit A temporary orbit for the satellite between the launched orbit by the launch vehicle and its final quasi-zenith orbit.
- Transfer orbit
phase:
A period between the end of the fifth apogee engine firing and the establishment
of the three axis attitude stabilization

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Completion of the Critical Operation Phase

September 19, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the attitude control mode of the first quasi-zenith satellite "MICHIBIKI" was shifted to the regular control mode at 7:31 p.m. on September 19, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST). As the MICHIBIKI has already been injected into the drift orbit, JAXA completed its critical operation phase.

The satellite is in good health.

We will further control the orbit to place the satellite into the quasi-zenith orbit for about one week while carrying out the initial functional verification of the onboard mission devices in cooperation with organizations* that perform technological verifications for about three months.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-Zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI Injection into the Quasi-Zenith Orbit

September 27, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has controlled the orbit of the First Quasi-Zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI" to insert it into the quasi-zenith orbit from the drift orbit starting on September 21 (Japan Standard Time, JST), and the final orbit control operation was performed for about 50 seconds from 6:28 a.m. on September 27 (JST.) After the operation, we have confirmed that the satellite was successfully injected into its preordained quasi-zenith orbit with its center longitude of about 135 degrees through the orbit calculation. The calculation results are as follows.
The MICHIBIKI was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:17 p.m. on September 11, 2010 (JST.)

Finalized Orbit*
Apogee altitude 38,950km
Perigee altitude 32,618km
Orbit inclination 41.0 degrees
Period 23 hours 56 minutes
Drift rate 0.03 degrees/day (to the east direction)


We will carry out the initial functional verification of the onboard mission devices in cooperation with organizations*1 that perform technological verifications for about three months.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.jaxa.jp : First Quasi-zenith Satellite MICHIBIKI - Status of the Initial Functional Verification

October 19, 2010 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been conducting the scheduled initial functional verification of the satellite bus and mission devices of the First Quasi-zenith Satellite "MICHIBIKI," which was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 8:17 p.m. on September 11, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, all the following dates and time are JST.) In the course of the verification, we confirmed the functions of the attitude control and communications systems, and, today, we would like to announce that we started transmission of one of the positioning signals, namely the L1-SAIF signal (*1) from the L1-SAIF antenna (*2) of the MICHIBIKI on October 19, 2010, after we turned on its onboard positioning mission devices.

We will make sure that the L1-SAIF signal has compatibility with the existing positioning services, and then begin transmitting signals from the L-band Helical Antenna (*3) namely the L1-C/A, L2C, L5, L1C, and LEX signals (*4), before gradually increasing the signal output in stages while confirming compatibility with them. It is expected to take about a week to transmit all the signals in full nominal output power.

During our verification of the positioning signal function and performance, Non Standard Code (NSC) is being used.

We will continue conducting the initial functional verification of the onboard devices (for abut three months after launch) in cooperation with organizations that are in charge of technical verification (*5.)

*1: L1-SAIF signal: a GPS augmentation signal with information on positioning correction and GPS healthiness ("SAIF" stands for "Submeter-class Augmentation with Integrity Function.")
*2: L1-SAIF antenna: an antenna to transmit the L1-SAIF signal to the ground.
*3: L-band Helical Antenna: an antenna to transmit the L1-C/A, L2C, L5, L1C, and LEX signals to the ground.
*4: L1-C/A, L2C, L5, L1C signals: GPS augmentation signals that can be operated reciprocally with positioning signals provided by the GPS. / LEX signal: a MICHIBIKI unique experimental signal.
*5: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI), Satellite Positioning Research and Application Center (SPAC)