OICETS

The Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS), also called Kirari, was an experimental satellite launched by JAXA to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means. OICETS was originally slated for a launch on the second J-I launcher. Due to problems with that launcher, the launch had to be put on hold. Using the H-IIA was out of question: it would have been overkill to use the H-IIA to send a 570 kilograms (1,260 lb) satellite into low Earth orbit, and there was no budget for another H-IIA launch. Finally, in order to be able to perform the tests during the lifetime of the European Artemis satellite, OICETS was successfully launched on a Dnepr rocket (OiCETS riding on a decommissioned SS-18 ICBM in place of the warheads).

Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite
NamesOICETS, Kirari
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorJAXA
COSPAR ID2005-031A
SATCAT no.28809
Websiteglobal.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/oicets/index.html
Mission durationPlanned: 1 year
Final: 4 years, 1 month
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerToshiba
Launch mass570 kg (1,260 lb)
Dimensions0.78 × 1.1 × 1.5 m (2.6 × 3.6 × 4.9 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date23 August 2005, 21:10 (2005-08-23UTC21:10) UTC[1]
RocketDnepr[2]
Launch siteBaikonur Pad 109/95[2]
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
Deactivated24 September 2009, 05:48 (2009-09-24UTC05:49) UTC[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.00107
Perigee altitude597 km (371 mi)
Apogee altitude612 km (380 mi)
Inclination97.8°
Period96.8 minutes
Epoch23 August 2005, 17:10:00 UTC[1]
 

The satellite was decommissioned and its mission terminated on 24 September 2009 at 05:48 UTC.[3]

Achievements
  • On 9 December 2005, JAXA succeeded in establishing optical links between OICETS and Artemis.
  • During March 2006, a successful link between OICETS and a ground station in Japan was established. This was the first optical links connection between a fixed ground station and an LEO satellite.
  • On 7 June 2006, JAXA established a communication link between OICETS and a mobile ground station operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Notes
  1. "OICETS - Trajectory Details". National Space Science Data Center. NASA. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. "Kirari". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. "Kirari: Signals stopped; successful operation ends". JAXA. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
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