Arase, formerly known as Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG), is a scientific
satellite
A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope ...
to study the
Van Allen belts. It was developed by the
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
(ISAS) is a Japanese national research organization of astrophysics using rockets, astronomical satellites and interplanetary probes which played a major role in Japan's space development. Since 2003, it is a division of Japan Aerospace E ...
of
JAXA
The is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orb ...
. While there was a scientist working on a similar project with the surname Arase, the satellite's name has nothing to do with him but instead named after a river beside the launch point.
It was launched aboard
Epsilon
Epsilon (, ; uppercase , lowercase or lunate ; el, έψιλον) is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a mid front unrounded vowel or . In the system of Greek numerals it also has the value five. It was der ...
launch vehicle at 11:00:00, 20 December 2016 UTC into apogee height 32250 km, perigee 214 km orbit. Subsequent perigee-up operation moved its orbit to apogee 32110 km, perigee 460 km of 565 minutes period.
Spacecraft
The Arase spacecraft is the second satellite based on SPRINT bus, after
Hisaki (SPRINT-A). Arase weighs about 350 kg, measures about 1.5 m × 1.5 m × 2.7 m at launch.
Once in orbit, it will extend four solar panels, two 5 m masts, and four 15 m wire antennas.
The spacecraft is spin-stabilized at 7.5 rpm (8 seconds).
Planned mission duration was for one year of scientific observation,
but the mission remains active over 5 years later.
Launch
Arase's launch on the enhanced
Epsilon
Epsilon (, ; uppercase , lowercase or lunate ; el, έψιλον) is the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet, corresponding phonetically to a mid front unrounded vowel or . In the system of Greek numerals it also has the value five. It was der ...
's maiden flight was originally scheduled for 2015, but was postponed to the 2016 financial year due to satellite development delays.
Instruments
Arase carries following instruments:
* XEP-e (Extremely high-energy electron sensor)
* HEP-e (High-energy particle sensor – electron)
* MEP-e (Medium-energy particle sensor – electron)
* LEP-e (Low-energy particle sensor – electron)
* MEP-i (Medium-energy particle – ion)
* LEP-i (Low-energy particle – ion)
* MGF (Magnetic Field Experiment)
* PWE (Plasma Wave Experiment)
* S-WPIA (Software Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer)
MGF is located at the end of 5 m extended mast.
PWE consists of a search coil (PWE-MSC) located at the end of another 5 m extended mast, four 15 m wire antennae (PWE-WPT), and associated electronics unit (PWE-E).
S-WPIA will analyse the data obtained by other instruments.
See also
*
Akebono
References
External links
Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace "ERG" JAXA
*
BrochureExploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace ERG ISAS/JAXA
*
Send your name and a message for ERG!* by JAXA
ERG Science Center
{{Use British English Oxford spelling, date=June 2019
Satellites of Japan
2016 in Japan
Spacecraft launched in 2016