Experimental Geodetic Satellite
| Experimental Geodetic Satellite | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Research satellite |
| Country: |
 Japan
|
| Operator: | NASDA |
| COSPAR-ID : | 1986-061A |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 685 kg |
| Begin: | August 12, 1986, 8:45 PM UTC |
| Starting place: | Tanegashima Space Center |
| Launcher: | HI |
| Status: | in orbit |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 115.7 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 50 ° |
| Apogee height : | 1497 km |
| Perigee height : | 1479 km |
Experimental Geodetic Satellite or EGS (later also Ajisai after a flower ) is a test satellite of the Japanese space agency NASDA , which was brought into space in 1986 when the two-stage HI rocket was first launched .
history
The launch of the satellite took place on August 12, 1986 at 20:45 UTC from Tanegashima Space Center and was the first test flight of the HI rocket. After launch into a 1479 × 1497 km high, almost circular orbit with a 50.0 ° orbit inclination the satellite was given the COSPAR designation 1986-061A and the Satellite Catalog Number 16908. The lifespan until it burns up in the earth's atmosphere is assumed to be 10,000 years.
The similarly structured but much smaller satellite Humanity Star was brought into near-Earth orbit on January 21, 2018 with the first successful launch of the Electron rocket .
Technical specifications
The hollow, roughly spherical and spin-stabilized satellite is a simple construction with a mass of around 685 kg and a diameter of 2.15 m without any power supply. It carries 318 mirrors for reflecting the sunlight and 120 laser reflectors (1436 cube reflectors) for precise measurement of its orbit, which in turn (e.g. by photographing the satellite and comparing the position with the help of the starry sky behind) the position determination of some isolated Japanese Islands and, in comparison with continental measurements, also the measurement of the earth's crustal movements in the Japanese area could be made. Since the plane mirrors only reflect the sunlight at certain angles of incidence and the satellite rotates, the satellite can be easily identified in binoculars by its light that flashes several times per second. The main purpose, however, was the service as a payload for the H-1 missile.
Together with EGS, the approximately 50 kg amateur radio satellite JAS 1 was also on board the H-1 rocket, which was deployed in a practically identical orbit and failed on November 5, 1989 due to a battery failure. In addition, the 250 kg Magnetic Bearing Flywheel Experimental System was also on board.
Web links
- EGS in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ EGS in the Encyclopedia Astronautica , accessed on January 25, 2018 (English).
- ↑ Tim Fernholz: Private rocketeers snuck their own “star” into orbit, and it will be visible from earth. In: Quartz . January 24, 2018, accessed January 25, 2018 .
- ↑ JAXA: Experimental Geodetic Satellite (English)
- ↑ Ajisai Satellite Information. In: ILRS . Archived from the original on January 13, 2016 ; accessed on January 25, 2018 (English).
- ^ A Brief History of Amateur Satellites. qsl.net, July 27, 1997, accessed May 25, 2011 .
- ^ HI Launch Vehicle. JAXA, March 28, 2011, accessed June 25, 2011 .