OICETS explained

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Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite
Names List:OICETS, Kirari
Mission Type:Technology demonstration
Operator:JAXA
Cospar Id:2005-031A
Satcat:28809
Mission Duration:Planned: 1 year
Final:
Manufacturer:Toshiba
Launch Mass:570kg (1,260lb)
Dimensions:0.78xx
Launch Date: UTC[1]
Launch Rocket:Dnepr[2]
Launch Site:Baikonur Pad 109/95
Disposal Type:Decommissioned
Deactivated: UTC[3]
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Eccentricity:0.00107
Orbit Periapsis:597km (371miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:612km (380miles)
Orbit Inclination:97.8°
Orbit Period:96.8 minutes
Orbit Epoch:23 August 2005, 17:10:00 UTC
Apsis:gee
Instruments List:
Acronym1:LUCE
Name1:Laser-Utilizing Communications Equipment
Acronym2:MVE
Name2:Micro Vibration Equipment

The Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS), also called Kirari, was an experimental satellite launched by JAXA 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 was out of question: it would have been overkill to use the H-IIA to send a 570kg (1,260lb) satellite into low Earth orbit, 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 satellite (since 2014, sold to Avanti Communications to exploit its Ka, S, and L-band payloads), OICETS was successfully launched on an SS-18-based Dnepr rocket.

The satellite was decommissioned and its mission terminated on 24 September 2009 at 05:48 UTC.

Achievements

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OICETS - Trajectory Details . . . 7 January 2017.
  2. Encyclopedia: Kirari . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221095254/http://www.astronautix.com/k/kirari.html . dead . 21 December 2016 . Encyclopedia Astronautica . 7 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Kirari: Signals stopped; successful operation ends . . 24 September 2009 . 7 January 2017.