Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS), also called ''Kirari'', was an experimental satellite launched by
*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
OICETS website
at JAXA.jp Satellites of Japan Spacecraft launched in 2005 Spacecraft launched by Dnepr rockets Spacecraft decommissioned in 2009 Technology demonstration satellites {{Japan-spacecraft-stub
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 o ...
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
H-IIA (H-2A) is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. These liquid fuel rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit; lunar orbi ...
was out of question: it would have been overkill to use the H-IIA to send a satellite into low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an geocentric orbit, orbit around Earth with a orbital period, period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an orbital eccentricity, eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial object ...
, 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
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Artemis (; ) is the goddess of the hunting, hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, transitions, nature, vegetation, childbirth, Kourotrophos, care of children, and chastity. In later tim ...
satellite (since 2014, sold to Avanti Communications
Avanti Communications is a UK based satellite operator, selling wholesale satellite broadband and satellite connectivity services to Internet Service Providers, Mobile Network Operators, Enterprises, Governments and other satellite operators. The ...
to exploit its Ka, S, and L-band payloads), OICETS was successfully launched on a Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr rocket
The Dnepr rocket (; ) was a space launch vehicle named after the Dnieper River. It was a converted ICBM used for launching artificial satellites into orbit, operated by launch service provider ISC Kosmotras. The first launch, on April 21, 1999, ...
.
The satellite was decommissioned and its mission terminated on 24 September 2009 at 05:48 UTC.
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
The German Aerospace Center (, abbreviated DLR, literally ''German Center for Air- and Space-flight'') is the national center for aerospace, energy and transportation research of Germany, founded in 1969. It is headquartered in Cologne with 3 ...
(DLR).
Notes
External links
OICETS website
at JAXA.jp Satellites of Japan Spacecraft launched in 2005 Spacecraft launched by Dnepr rockets Spacecraft decommissioned in 2009 Technology demonstration satellites {{Japan-spacecraft-stub