Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter Options

[Paolo]

I thought it was time to start a separate thread on this mission, launching soon
some good medium-resolution images of the spacecraft are available on JAXA digital archives
http://jda.jaxa.jp/jda/p3_e.php?time=N&...mp;mission=4066

[Greg Hullender]

Here's a link to the Akatski "Special Site," which, among other things, includes a countdown.

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html

In the past, we've seen Japanese sites where the English content was sparse and very hard to read, but on this site, the English is excellent, although obviously not native. As a linguist and a Japanese speaker, I'm very impressed with whoever is doing it, and wish we had some way to encourage them. (Or to encourage their bosses.)

I had actually thought we should find a way to volunteer to help polish the English for JAXA -- it would be a great way to give something back -- but it's clear they don't need that for this project. Way to go!

--Greg

[punkboi]

March 18, 2010 Updated

AKATSUKI leaves for Tanegashima

The Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" left the Sagamihara Campus for the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) on the evening of March 17.

The AKATSUKI will be delivered to the TNSC on the 19th. It will undergo final launch preparations there.

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html

[robspace54]

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/overview/akatsuki_e.html

Planet-C (Ataksuki or the Venus Climate Orbiter) getting ready to launch. Ataksuki will examine the planet Venus using infrared scanning, something that has not been done by an orbiting spacecraft. Launch will happen in on H-IIA in May 18, 2010.

http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/E_intro.html


Major Characteristics of AKATSUKI
Shape and Size Box shape with two wing-type solar array paddles
(1.04 meters x 1.45 meters x 1.4 meters)
Scheduled Orbit Type: Venus elliptical orbit
PeriVenus: 300 km
ApoVenus: about 80,000 km
Orbital Period: 30 hours
Orbital Inclination: 172 degrees
Scheduled Life 4.5 years after liftoff
Mass Mass at liftoff: about 500 kg
Power Generated Power in Venus Orbit: about 500 W (at the end of the mission)
Mission Equipment
for Scientific Observation Mission Equipment / Major Observation Target
- 1μm camera (IR1) / Low stratus, vapor, active volcanism
- 2μmcamera (IR2) / Low stratus, trace gasses, zodiacal light
- Long wave infrared camera (LIR) / Cloud-top temperature distribution
- Ultraviolet imager (UVI) / Cloud-top ultraviolet absorber, SO2
- Lightening and airglow camera: (LAC) / Lightening flash, high-stratus airglow emission
- Ultra-stable Oscillator (USO) / Atmospheric temperature structure


http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/download.html#illust

Paper models (1:30 scale) are accessible from the above link. Note that 2009, 2007 and 2001 versions are on this page. The paper size of the 2009 version is 7.49 inches x 10.81 inches (190.25 mm x 274.57 mm) - which is an odd size, I think.

The H-IIA launcher will also carry five piggyback satellites, including IKAROS - a solar sail test mission.

Rob

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[punkboi]

The IKAROS solar sail is set to join Akatsuki at Tanegashima Space Center around April 2, after leaving the Sagamihara campus on March 29...according to Spaceflightnow.com

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/100322shipment/

[Vultur]

IKAROS sounds really cool, is there any website to find more info on it?

[Vultur]

Thanks.

Yay, solar sails!

[punkboi]

IKAROS is now inside a clean room at the Tanegashima Space Center...according to its Twitter page

http://twitter.com/ikaroskun

I used Babylon.com to translate the Tweet

http://translation.babylon.com/Japanese/to-English/

[punkboi]

There haven't been any online updates about Akatsuki since...March 19, but the IKAROS solar sail is being transported to the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly (SFA) Building at Tanegashima Space Center tomorrow. There, IKAROS will eventually be encapsulated by the payload fairing before being attached to the H-2A launch vehicle.

About 27 days and counting...

http://twitter.com/ikaroskun

[punkboi]

Akatsuki and IKAROS are now mated together in the SFA.

http://twitter.com/ikaroskun

If the Google translations aren't the epitome of sexual innuendo, I don't know what is.

[punkboi]

Akatsuki and IKAROS ready for fairing encapsulation and attachment to H-2A rocket

http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/

Akatsuki has a Twitter page as well

http://twitter.com/Akatsuki_JAXA

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[Mark6]

Well, I had to update my long-neglected web page:

Active Interplanetary Probes at Any Given Time

The only reason I neglected it is because not a lot changed in last 10 months or so.

Paolo, when is your third book coming out?

[Paolo]

Paolo, when is your third book coming out?

I think it will be in 2011. In fact, it probably will be expanded to cover 2010 as well. I have already written most of the section on Akatsuki

[tedstryk]

Well, I had to update my long-neglected web page:

Active Interplanetary Probes at Any Given Time

Pioneer 5 seems conspicuously absent.

[Mark6]

Pioneer 5 seems conspicuously absent.

Odd. Somehow I missed it completely...

OK, will fix it!

[tedstryk]

I should add that your page is really cool - helps one visualize the continuity of exploration.

[punkboi]

Akatsuki and IKAROS are now encapsulated in the H-2A rocket's payload fairing

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/topics_e.html

Next up should be the move to the Vehicle Assembly Building so the payload could be mated with the H-2A itself

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[Mark6]

Done. I also fixed cruise/primary operations status of EPOXI (it was showing continuous "primary operations" from late 2007 on, which is not the case) and changed color for asteroid missions -- it was much too similar to the color for outer planet missions.

Keep my fingers crossed for successful launch of Akatsuki!

I should add that your page is really cool - helps one visualize the continuity of exploration.

Thank you - that was kind of the intent!

[punkboi]

Better-quality pics of the encapsulation

http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/index.html

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[punkboi]

Akatsuki and IKAROS are now onboard the H-2A rocket! The move to the Vehicle Assembly Building took place early this morning (May 9)

http://twitter.com/ikaroskun/status/13642295786

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[punkboi]

Better-quality photos of the VAB move are up

http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/

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[colin_wilson]

Note that the Akatsuki/Ikaros launch will be broadcast over the web, link available here : http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/live/index_e.html

Launch will be at 6:44:14 Japan time / 10:44:14 pm UK summer time / 5:44:14 pm U.S. Eastern time

[Paolo]

Press kits:
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/pdf/presskit_akatsuki_e.pdf
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/pdf/presskit_ikaros_e.pdf
http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/pdf/plan_h2af17_e.pdf

[punkboi]

Photos showing the H-2A rocket rolling out to the launch pad

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[punkboi]

A pre-dawn image of H-2A at Launch Pad 1

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[Ron Hobbs]

I am watching the webcast. What a picturesque launch site.

Go Akatsuki!

[Ron Hobbs]

I don't understand Japanese, but it sure looks like the weather is a problem.

[Ron Hobbs]

Yep! The launch was just scrubbed.

[climber]

Indeed, Scrub

[nprev]

Bummer, but not surprising; the weather really looks nasty.

I'm kind of surprised they took it down to the wire as far as they did, really; the scrub happened at T-5 min. How long is this Venus launch window, anyhow, a week or two?

[punkboi]

Weather forecast to be bleak for pretty much this entire week. Akatsuki / IKAROS have till June 3 to get off the ground.

[nprev]

Read my mind, PB; I was just editing my post to ask about launch window length. Thanks!

[tedstryk]

Glad they scrubbed it. Eli's exploding diaper would have caused me to miss it. Yes!!!!

[punkboi]

The weather at Tanegashima probably won't be ideal for launch till May 25 (Tuesday). Darn.

[punkboi]

NEW LAUNCH DATE SET: May 21 at 6:58:22 AM, Japan Time (May 20, 5:58:22 PM, EDT...or 21:58:22 UTC)

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/topics_e.html

[brellis]

I'd rather see a scrubbed launch than a failed launch like OCO. That was painful, watching the reactions of the team when they lost communications.

Brings to mind a question. When was the last time weather actually caused a launch failure on a significant mission?

[ugordan]

When was the last time weather actually caused a launch failure on a significant mission?

There's the Atlas/Centaur-67 launch. I can't think of a more recent directly weather-induced failure.

[punkboi]

H-2A at the pad once more..

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[punkboi]

Congrats to JAXA for the successful launch of Akatsuki and IKAROS (plus those 4 smaller satellites)!

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[punkboi]

Initial Operation Result of
the Venus Climate Orbiter 'AKATSUKI'

May 21, 2010 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)


The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received the signal transmitted from the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" at the Uchinoura Space Center at 4:40 p.m. on May 21, 2010 (Japan Standard Time, JST), and confirmed that the scheduled sequence of events including the solar array paddle deployment and sun acquisition were successfully performed.

The AKATSUKI was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 6:58:22 a.m. on May 21, 2010 (JST)

The orbiter is currently in a healthy state.

We are preparing for the AKATSUKI injection into the Venus orbit in early December while checking functions of the onboard equipment and controlling the attitude and orbit.

We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch and tracking and control operations of the AKATSUKI.

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100521_akatsuki_e.html


The Operation Status of
the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator 'IKAROS'

May 22, 2010 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) acquired the signal transmitted from the IKAROS at the Usuda Deep Space Station and confirmed its solar power generation and stable posture, and established communications. We will turn on onboard devices one by one.

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100522_ikaros_e.html

[punkboi]

'First Light' images taken of Earth with Akatsuki's LIR, UVI and IR1 instruments

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[Paolo]

some updates on Unitec http://sites.google.com/site/unitec1ops/home

[punkboi]

IKAROS moves to Verification Experiment Phase

May 24, 2010 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) completed the initial
operation check of the Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS,"
which was launched on May 21, 2010 (Japan Standard Time,) from the
Tanegashima Space Center.

We will take a few weeks to carry out the first verification
experiments, namely deployment of the solar sail and solar power
generation by thin film solar cells.


This page URL:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100524_ikaros_e.html

[Paolo]

Latest UNITEC status update:

We haven't received the UNITEC-1 signal after 21 May 2010, 18:00 (UTC).
We very much appreciate if you send any reception or information for UNITEC-1.

[4th rock from th...]

Here's a composite of the 3 first light images. I've added the LIR image as luminance (inverted) just for aesthetic effect.

[Stu]

Here's a composite of the 3 first light images.

Love that, really beautiful picture.

[punkboi]

I'm reading elsewhere that radio contact has been lost with 3 of the 4 minisats...only Negai☆ is operating normally. That's unfortunate to hear.

[punkboi]

IKAROS Update:

-IKAROS is 2,266,103 miles (3,646,160 km) from Earth as of today

-the spacecraft is currently spinning at 20 rpm...will increase to 25 rpm by tomorrow before the solar sail finally begins full deployment this week

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/

[punkboi]

New images taken by IKAROS...showing the four tip masses that are on each outer tip of the solar sail have successfully separated from the spacecraft

http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_channel/bn004.html

As an FYI, three of those four tip masses contain many aluminum plates engraved with the names of 63,248 people. These names were submitted online as part of a public outreach effort by JAXA between December 2009 and March 22 of this year.

[Paolo]

punkboi, it looks like we posted the same link in two separate topics
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=160383

[punkboi]

More images taken by IKAROS. Official first stage sail deployment begins tomorrow

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[Hungry4info]

"One of the three missing minisatellites detected"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/technol...llites-detected

[Paolo]

This is interesting: studies have been carried out on the possibility of sending Akatsuki's secondary payloads to other targets in the solar system. It turns out Apophis can be reached

see: http://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2008-d-43.pdf

[punkboi]

I would assume that the secondary payload they're referring to is IKAROS; three of the four minisats are stuck in Earth orbit...and I don't think UNITEC-1 has any onboard propellant that would allow it to change course once it reached Venus.

[Paolo]

If I understand correctly this JAXA release (in Japanese only) Akatsuki carried out its first 12m/s course correction on 28 June

[Paolo]

JAXA has released some stellar calibration images taken earlier this month
http://www.stp.isas.jaxa.jp/venus/index.html
unfortunately, the release is in Japanese only, but the google translation is quite readable

[Paolo]

two interesting-looking pages on Akatsuki telecommunications systems and antennae
http://www.nec.co.jp/ad/cosmos/akatsuki/02/?cid=twi
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/column/akatsuki/06.shtml
unfortunately, they are only in Japanese for the time being...

[punkboi]

Date of AKATSUKI injection to Venus orbit

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html

JAXA decided to emit jets from the orbital maneuvering engine (OME) of the AKATSUKI at 8:49:00 a.m. on Dec. 7 (Japan Standard Time, all the following dates and time are in JST) to inject the orbiter into the Venus orbit. Under the current schedule, the OME jet emission will be completed at 9:01:00 a.m. on the same day, and the Venus orbit will be determined around 9:00 p.m. also on the same day after some attitude control maneuvers including the Earth pointing maneuver of the Z axis.

The AKATSUKI will study the Venus atmosphere for about two years after being injected into the Venus orbit

8:49:00 a.m. on Dec. 7 JST (11:49:00 p.m. on Dec. 6 UTC)

****

What I'm wondering is when Akatsuki will start taking images of Venus as the spacecraft nears arrival...and when JAXA will release 'em

[rlorenz]

What I'm wondering is when Akatsuki will start taking images of Venus as the spacecraft nears arrival...and when JAXA will release 'em

I don't know the details of science operations : the JAXA team is understandably focussed on
getting safely into orbit first. NASA did just announce (although oddly not yet linked on
the NASA or JAXA Akatsuki pages, as far as I can tell) the selection of US-supported
participating scientists for Akatsuki. Among their (our) tasks will be to assist with archiving the
data in a PDS-consistent format and with Education/Public Outreach efforts....

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-389

[Paolo]

from the latest ESA bulletin (published online yesterday http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMO6LIRPGG_index_0.html )

The Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter, Akatsuki, was launched on 21 May. It is due to arrive in orbit around Venus on 7 December. Joint operations between Akatsuki
and Venus Express will start in January 2011 and will cover a large number of different cases, including simultaneous observations at different scales, differential radio science
observations, long-term chained tracking of cloud patterns, spectral versus large-scale imaging observations and cross-calibration. Several of these observations will
also be coordinated with observers at a number of the world’s leading ground-based observing facilities.

[punkboi]

AKATSUKI ready for orbit injection

The Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" shifted its attitude at 7:50 a.m. on December 6 to be ready for Venus orbit insertion at 8:49 a.m. on December 7.

On the 7th, we will hold some events to support the AKATSUKI orbit injection. We plan to run the "Venus arrival live broadcast" featuring the AKTSUKI and show the scene of the AKATSUKI Control Room" at a public viewing site. Please come and join the injection moment. (* All time and dates are Japan Standard Time.)

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/topics_e.html

[Hungry4info]

Something has started here. Akatsuki-related?

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[Ron Hobbs]

A little less than 2 hrs to go.

Go, Akatsuki!

[Hungry4info]

From their twitter:
"[From Akatsuki Team] For Orbit insertion forty-nine past eleven p.m. Burn at UT, we confirmed Have LATCH Valve is opened."

[Paolo]

Just for statistics: if successful, Akatsuki will become the eighth Venus orbiter, after 4 Soviet ones, 2 US and 1 European.
Remarkably, no Venus orbiter has ever failed before reaching the planet, unlike the many (10) lost Mars orbiters

[punkboi]

Akatsuki begins its orbit insertion burn around Venus in less than an hour. Hopefully everything goes smooth!

[Hungry4info]

There is now audio on the stream.

[Ron Hobbs]

Aargh! I can't get the stream here at work. Is the burn going OK?

[Hungry4info]

I'm getting a stream but it's extremely choppy. There's no English translation available but there has been a couple episodes of clapping.

[Ron Hobbs]

Well the burn should be over now. We'll just assume that the clapping is a good sign that Akatsuki is now a satellite of Venus.

[Hungry4info]

They should be coming out of comm blackout now.
We'll know soon.

[nprev]

Hungry, are you using the same link you posted for the stream? I can't get it to load at all.

[Hungry4info]

Yes.

They were supposed to regain contact with the spacecraft seven minutes ago. I haven't seen any applause or cheering (though granted the stream does suck.)

[nprev]

Ah--thanks. Looking forward to updates, will watch this topic closely...looks like it'll be the only near-RT info source available in English.

[Hungry4info]

Afraid there's not much to say at the moment...
A lot of people looking at their monitors. Others looking at graphs projected onto the wall. No one looks particularly amused.

[Hungry4info]

May have heard some clapping. (again, with the way the feed is, it's really hard to make things out)

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

Shouldn't we have heard something by now?

[Hungry4info]

I don't know what this is but it is being presented to the viewers.

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[Guest_Sunspot_*]

aahhh haaaa the stream is working

Kind of lol

[Hungry4info]

If his pen marks the position of the spacecraft, they may have made it.

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[nprev]

Blast and damn, I can't get the stream to work!!!

Oh, well. My wife's out shopping anyhow...hopefully she'll be home soon for some translation duty...

[Hungry4info]

They showed a visually impressive demonstration of a cup being crushed in a pressure chamber. The cup had solar arrays marked on it.
May have heard some clapping, too.

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[punkboi]

Communications currently interrupted with the spacecraft since its antenna is facing away from Earth.

We shouldn't officially get an update on Akatsuki's current orbital position till 4 AM, PST (7 AM, EST)

http://twitter.com/Akatsuki_JAXA

[Hungry4info]

That's a comforting explanation.

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

The twitter feed hasnt been updated for an hour.

[Hungry4info]

Important?

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[Hungry4info]

A significant amount of clapping... probably because the feed just ended.
Looks like it was just applauding the end of the show.

Edit: Though feed from the control room remains.

[nprev]

My wife's translation of the sign: "Akatsuki presents key word!"

Interpretation: She chirped an "I'm okay" signal?

[Hungry4info]

My sincerest thanks for your wife's translations.

I like your interpretation, I hope it's true. =)

[nprev]

She said "you're welcome".

The language barrier just makes the uncertainty worse, of course, but I don't think that they would have shown that sign unless things were not nearly as black as they seemed awhile back. We don't know if everything is nominal--based on what you wrote, doesn't seem like it--but it looks like Akatsuki is still in the game.

Now to wait some more to see if she made orbit, I guess...

[marsbug]

So do I - I have to get to bed....good luck Akatsuki!

[Ron Hobbs]

Me too! I've got my fingers crossed.

[Bjorn Jonsson]

I really should have gone to bed some time ago but simply couldn't due to this event. We have obviously gotten used to following events like this in real time without any problems. Hopefully everything is OK.

[Hungry4info]

Finally, new tweets at Akatsuki_JAXA (link)

Minutes from the current operation room [13:10] Sagamihara, we are continuing to work towards resuming communication with the Akatsuki.

Akatsuki-kun luck Yeah! Raised to cheer her Jinxi!

Edit: ...after being passed through Google translator.

[punkboi]

Emily posted a helpful chart showing the timeline of events after the orbit insertion burn

http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002802/

[Hungry4info]

From cosmos4u:

Apparently http://twitpic.com/3dm5ci shows someone from @Akatsuki_JAXA management explaining the com problem, recovery options to the press.

Edit: From the same source:

Trouble with @Akatsuki_JAXA? "Interruption after the communication was not recovered," said http://is.gd/ijzi7 25 min ago (via @MuiMuiZ).

[Hungry4info]

This url (a translated twitter...) shows some interesting tweets.

[punkboi]

New Tweet from @Akatsuki_JAXA: [More] Sagamihara operation room about 28 minutes at 10 December 07, 2010 (Japan time), and received a wave from the Akatsuki. Currently, we went to check the state of the satellite.

[nprev]

My wife's translation of the most recent tweet from Akatsuki_JAXA (10 min ago as I write this):

'As of 7 Dec 2010 1028 JST received signal from Akatsuki. We are attempting to verify its position (attitude?)."

She said it 'came from Mission Control'.

[Ron Hobbs]

Spaceflight Now is reporting the "mission's fate uncertain."

The good news: "Engineers confirmed ignition of the thruster before Akatsuki passed behind Venus"

"Controllers finally received signals from the spacecraft at 0128 GMT Tuesday (8:28 p.m. EST), or at 10:28 a.m. Japanese time."

I hope to hear that Akatsuki is safely in Venusian orbit tomorrow morning. Have a good night all.