Drift Orbit Injection Result of
the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8"
and Deployment Schedule of the Large Deployable Antenna Reflectors
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
JAXA has performed the apogee engine firing four times for the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8" to ultimately inject itself into the drift orbit since its injection into the first transfer orbit on Dec. 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) till Dec. 24.
As a result of the orbit determination after the fourth apogee engine firing, we have confirmed that the "KIKU No. 8" was injected into the scheduled drift orbit.
| Determination result | Scheduled value | |
| Apogee Altitude | 35,971 Km | 35,975 Km |
| Perigee Altitude | 35,752 Km | 35,784 Km |
| Inclination | 0.17 degrees | 0.17 degrees |
| Period | 23 hours 59 minutes | 24 hours 00 minute |
| Drift rate | 0.97 degrees per day (to the West) |
1.22 degrees per day (to the West) |
The satellite is in good condition.
JAXA will deploy the two large deployable antennas around 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 25, 2006 (JST.) It is expected to take about seven hours. We plan to issue the deployment result of the large deployable antennas at around 3:00 a.m. on Dec. 26.
(Note)
| Drift rate: | velocity of the satellite moving toward the longitude direction from the Earth. |
| Large Deployable Antenna Reflector: |
19 m x 17 m high accuracy mirror surfaced mesh antenna for S-band. |
| Transfer orbit: | a temporary orbit where a satellite is injected into by a launch vehicle before it moves into its target Geostationary orbit. |
| Drift orbit: | a circular orbit at the altitude of about 36,000 km that is the last step before a satellite is injected into its target Geostationary orbit. |
|
|
| Event | Revolution |
|---|---|
| (1)Second stage/KIKU No. 8 separation (2)Solar array paddle deployment (3)Solar array paddle sun acquisition (4)First apogee engine firing (5)Second apogee engine firing (6)Third apogee engine firing (7)Fourth apogee engine firing (8)Shift to the three axis attitude control (9)Large Deployable Reflectors (LDR) Deployment (10)Shift to the regular control mode |
1 1 1 2 4 9 10 10 11 12 |
Flight Plan of the "KIKU No. 8"
For inquiries:
JAXA Public Affairs Department
Tel: +81-3-6266-6413 to 7, Fax: +81-3-6266-6910
Tsukuba Space Center General Administration Office
Tel: +029-868-4277,4279,4280
Fax: +029-868-5966