ETS-VIII

Kiku 8
Mission type Communications
Technology
Operator JAXA
NICT
NTT
COSPAR ID 2006-059A
SATCAT no. 29656
Website www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ets8/index_e.html
Mission duration 10 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus DS-2000
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric
Launch mass 5,800 kilograms (12,800 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 18 December 2006, 06:32 (2006-12-18UTC06:32Z) UTC[1]
Rocket H-IIA 204
Launch site Tanegashima Yoshinobu 1
Contractor Mitsubishi
Entered service 9 May 2007
End of mission
Deactivated 10 January 2017 (2017-01-11)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 145.7° east
Semi-major axis 42,163.77 kilometres (26,199.35 mi)
Eccentricity 0.0005611
Perigee 35,769 kilometres (22,226 mi)
Apogee 35,816 kilometres (22,255 mi)
Inclination 3.04 degrees
Period 23.93 hours
RAAN 68.56 degrees
Argument of perigee 138.47 degrees
Epoch 29 October 2013, 19:34:27 UTC[2]

JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is 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 is to enable satellite communications with small terminals. Unlike the Iridium satellites for mobile communication, ETS-VIII is positioned at GEO. However to fulfill the task the satellite must carry two very large antennas. It was the first use of the 204 configuration (four strap-on boosters) of the H-IIA launch vehicle.

Timetable

  • 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.
  • January 9, 2007 GEO orbit injection.
  • May 9, 2007 The satellite switched to normal operation phase.
  • January 10, 2017: Decommissioned.[3]

References

  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.


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