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ETS-VIII

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Kiku 8
Mission typeCommunications
Technology
OperatorJAXA
NICT
NTT
COSPAR ID2006-059A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.29656
Websitewww.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets8/index_e.html
Mission duration10 years
Spacecraft properties
BusDS-2000
ManufacturerMitsubishi Electric
Launch mass5,800 kilograms (12,800 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date18 December 2006, 06:32 (2006-12-18UTC06:32Z) UTC[1]
RocketH-IIA 204
Launch siteTanegashima Yoshinobu 1
ContractorMitsubishi
Entered service9 May 2007
End of mission
Deactivated10 January 2017 (2017-01-11)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude145.7° east
Semi-major axis42,163.77 kilometres (26,199.35 mi)
Eccentricity0.0005611
Perigee altitude35,769 kilometres (22,226 mi)
Apogee altitude35,816 kilometres (22,255 mi)
Inclination3.04 degrees
Period23.93 hours
RAAN68.56 degrees
Argument of perigee138.47 degrees
Epoch29 October 2013, 19:34:27 UTC[2]

JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) was the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18, 2006. ETS-VIII was developed by JAXA in cooperation with NICT and NTT. The aim of ETS-VIII was to enable satellite communications with small terminals. Unlike the Iridium satellites for mobile communication, ETS-VIII was positioned at GEO. However to fulfill the task, it was essential that the satellite carried two very large antennas. It was the first use of the 204 configuration (four strap-on boosters) of the H-IIA launch vehicle.

Timetable

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  • December 20, 2000: Launch of LDREX, a demonstration of the large antenna reflector deployment, aboard Ariane 5. Deployment failed.
  • October 14, 2006: Launch of LDREX-2 with the Ariane 5, model antenna deployed successfully.
  • December 18, 2006: ETS-VIII was launched aboard H-IIA.
  • December 26, 2006: Both antennas were deployed. [1]Archived 2007-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  • January 9, 2007: GEO orbit injection. [2] Archived 2007-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  • May 9, 2007: The satellite switched to normal operation phase. [3]
  • January 10, 2017: Decommissioned.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  2. ^ Peat, Chris (29 October 2013). "ETS 8 - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  3. ^ 「きく8号」の運用終了について (in Japanese). JAXA. January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.