This press release is issued by NASDA.
Orbit Calculation Results of DRTS (Kodama) and 1st Apogee Engine Firing Plan
September 11, 2002 (JST)
National Space Development Agency of Japan
The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has confirmed that the Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS), "Kodama", has been placed into the predetermined transfer orbit.
The orbital parameters calculation results are as follows:| Resultant Parameters | Planned Parameters | |
| Height of Apogee: | 36,203 km | (36,206 km) |
| Height of Perigee: | 449 km | (450 km) |
| Orbital Inclination: | 28.5 degrees | (28.5 degrees) |
| Period: | 10 hours 44 minutes | (10 hours 44 minutes) |
Currently Kodama is working normally.
From now on, the apogee engine will be fired in three times, Kodama will be changed its orbit through the second and the third transfer orbits to the drift orbit. The first apogee engine firing will be conducted for about 1 hour, starting at 9:21am (JST) on September 11, 2002 and Kodama will be placed into the second transfer orbit.
Supplement
| 1) Transfer Orbit: | It is a tentative orbit where a satellite is placed into right after launch till it moves to a final operational orbit. |
| 2) Apogee Engine: | It is an engine to fire around the farthest point (apogee) of the transfer orbit and to raise the height of perigee of the satellite orbit for getting the satellite closer to the geostationary orbit. |
| 3) Drift Orbit: | It is the orbit where the satellite is placed into right before going into the geostationary orbit. In the orbit, the satellite looks like moving slowly (drifting) in the sky over the equator. |
|
|