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ADEOS IS UNDERGOING FINAL CHECK-OUT FOR AUGUST LAUNCH
Yukio Haruyama
ADEOS Program Manager
Earth Observation Planning Department, National Space Development Agency of JapanThe Space Activities Commission approved the August 17 launch of ADEOS on June 19, and the official announcement of the launch date was made immediately.
From late April to May, Project Development Completion Reviews on the spacecraft, H-II F4 launch vehicle, tracking and control system, and data acquisition and processing system have been carried out successfully. The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) was held on May 24. On May 29, on agency-level meeting with the ADEOS participating agencies, i.e. NASA, NOAA, CNES, Japan Environment Agency (EA) and the Ministry of International Trade and Industries (MITI) was held in order to report on the development status and launch plan. The above process confirmed that the whole system had completed development and could move to the launch phase.
Since arrival at the Tanegashima Space Center on March 8, the spacecraft has undergone the following tests at Spacecraft Testing Area #2 (STA#2) building:
All the tests have been conducted, and the spacecraft processing is on the schedule.
- post-transportation electrical performance test
- Radio license inspection
- special electric performance test
- compatibility test with Masuda tracking station
- paddle installation and conduction test
- post-transportation alignment test
- Reaction Control Subsystem (RCS) test
- Launch rehearsal
The spacecraft will undergo flight battery installation, flight configuration set-up and final visual inspection. The spacecraft will then be handed over to the ADEOS Launch Team in early July, and the launch preparatory operations will begin.
The H-II core launch vehicle arrived at the Tanegashima Space Center on June 22. In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the first stage will be mated with the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) and then with the second stage on the Mobile Launcher (ML).
The H-II launch vehicle on the ML is scheduled to move to the Pad Service Tower (PST) in early July.
In parallel with the spacecraft processing, tracking and control training rehearsals have been conducted at the Tsukuba Space Centers with participation from the Tracking & Acquisition Control Center (TACC) and three Tracking & Acquisition Control Stations (TACS) (Katuura, Masuda and Okinawa). Engineers from the mission instrument providing agencies also participated.
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Earth Observation Research Center |
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