OICETS

Updated on Jan 03, 2024

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Names OICETS, Kirari COSPAR ID 2005-031A Launch date 23 August 2005		Operator JAXA SATCAT no. 28809

Mission type Technology demonstration Website global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/oicets/index.html Similar Artemis, ETS‑VII, Super Low Altitude Test Satel, WINDS, Space Flyer Unit

The Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS), also called Kirari, is 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 this launcher, the launch had to be put on hold. Using the H-IIA was out of question: it would be overkill to use this model to send a 570 kilograms (1,260 lb) 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, OICETS was successfully launched on a Dnepr rocket.

OICETS OICETS Search EO Satellite Missions

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 (DLR).

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OICETS JAXA Optical Interorbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite

References

OICETS Wikipedia

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