Arase (satellite)
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Arase, formerly known as Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG), is a scientific satellite to study the Van Allen belts. It was developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of JAXA. 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.
Artistic rendering of Arase in orbit. | |
| Mission type | Earth observation |
|---|---|
| Operator | JAXA |
| COSPAR ID | 2016-080A |
| SATCAT no. | 41896 |
| Mission duration | 8 years, 4 months and 4 days (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | SPRINT |
| Launch mass | ~350 kg |
| Power | ≧700 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11:00, December 20, 2016 (UTC) |
| Rocket | Epsilon |
| Launch site | Uchinoura |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Perigee altitude | ~460 km |
| Apogee altitude | ~32110 km |
| Inclination | ~31 degrees [1] |
| Period | ~565 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| |
It was launched aboard Epsilon 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.[2]
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.[3] Once in orbit, it will extend four solar panels, two 5 m masts, and four 15 m wire antennas.[3] The spacecraft is spin-stabilized at 7.5 rpm (8 seconds).[3]
Planned mission duration was for one year of scientific observation, [3] but the mission remains active over 5 years later.
Launch
Arase's launch on the enhanced Epsilon's maiden flight was originally scheduled for 2015, but was postponed to the 2016 financial year due to satellite development delays.[4]
Instruments
Arase carries following instruments:[3]
- XEP-e (Extremely high-energy electron sensor)[5]
- 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.[3]
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).[3]
S-WPIA will analyse the data obtained by other instruments.[3]
See also
References
External links
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