Press Release


  This press release is issued by NASDA.

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Orbital Calculation Results of MDS-1 and Future Operation Plan

February 4, 2002 (JST)

National Space Development Agency of Japan

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has injected the Mission Demonstration test Satellite-1 into the required parking orbit. The orbital elements of MDS-1 are as follows:

Determined Planned
Apogee height 35696km ( 35735km )
Perigee height 500km ( 500km )
Orbit inclination 28.5degree ( 28.5degree )
Period 10hours35minutes ( 10hours35minutes )

Following events are planned:

*Spin-up Around 1:00 a.m. February 5, 2002 (Japan Standard Time)
*Initial Sun Acquisition    Around 4:00 a.m. February 5, 2002 (Japan Standard Time)

The satellite conditions are normal at present.

Additional information:

Spin-up Operation : This is an operation to try to run up the spin rate of the satellite to keep its attitude stable.
Initial Sun Acquisition : This is an operation to point the solar paddle to the desirable direction against the sun for the first time by controlling attitude of the satellite.