"Tsubame (satellite)" redirects here. For the gamma-ray burst observation satellite, see TSUBAME (satellite).
Super Low Altitude Test Satellite (SLATS) or Tsubame was a JAXA satellite intended to demonstrate operations in very low Earth orbit (VLEO, below 200 km), using ion engines to counteract aerodynamic drag from the Earth's atmosphere which is substantial at such lower orbital altitudes. It was launched on 23 December 2017, and decommissioned on 1 October 2019.[1]
The spacecraft was equipped with sensors to determine atomic oxygen density, an exposure facility to measure material degradation in the 200 km orbit, and a small camera.[2] Initial designs had conventional, though slightly canted, solar panels (compare to the aerodynamic shape and on-body solar panels of GOCE, which flew in a 255 km orbit). SLATS received the nickname Tsubame (Japanese for barn swallow) on 14 July 2017.[3] According to JAXA, this name was chosen as the thin, elongated satellite in super low orbit with a set of solar array wings was reminiscent of a small swallow flying low.
SLATS was launched 23 December 2017 on a H-IIA rocket alongside the GCOM-C (Shikisai) satellite to a 630 km orbit, followed by orbit-lowering manoeuvres by a combination of chemical propulsion and aerobraking, with final operation at an altitude below 180 km.[4]
SLATS was operated at 7 altitudes: 271.5 and 216.8 km each for 38 days, and 250, 240, 230, 181.1 and 167.4 km each for 7 days.[5] At 167.4 km the RCS thrusters were used in addition to the ion thruster to maintain altitude.[5]
The operation of the satellite was finished on 30 September 2019, and it was decommissioned in orbit on 1 October 2019 by terminating the communication radio and power.[1] The satellite deorbited 1 October 2019.[6]
On 30 December 2019, Guinness World Records recognized Tsubame's achievement, which reached the lowest altitude ever among Earth observation satellites.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab超低高度衛星技術試験機「つばめ」（SLATS）の運用終了について (in Japanese). JAXA. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
super, altitude, test, satellite, tsubame, satellite, redirects, here, gamma, burst, observation, satellite, tsubame, satellite, slats, tsubame, jaxa, satellite, intended, demonstrate, operations, very, earth, orbit, vleo, below, using, engines, counteract, ae. Tsubame satellite redirects here For the gamma ray burst observation satellite see TSUBAME satellite Super Low Altitude Test Satellite SLATS or Tsubame was a JAXA satellite intended to demonstrate operations in very low Earth orbit VLEO below 200 km using ion engines to counteract aerodynamic drag from the Earth s atmosphere which is substantial at such lower orbital altitudes It was launched on 23 December 2017 and decommissioned on 1 October 2019 1 Super Low Altitude Test Satellite SLATS Mission typeTechnology demonstrationOperatorJAXACOSPAR ID2017 082BSATCAT no 43066Mission duration1 year 9 months and 8 daysSpacecraft propertiesManufacturerMitsubishi Electric Corp Launch mass400 kilograms 880 lb PowerSolar panel 1140 WStart of missionLaunch dateDecember 23 2017 2017 12 23 UTCRocketH IIALaunch siteTanegashima Yoshinobu 1End of missionDeactivated1 October 2019Decay date1 October 2019Orbital parametersRegimeLow Earth orbitAltitude180 kilometres 110 mi 268 kilometres 167 mi Lowest record 167 4 kilometres 104 0 mi The spacecraft was equipped with sensors to determine atomic oxygen density an exposure facility to measure material degradation in the 200 km orbit and a small camera 2 Initial designs had conventional though slightly canted solar panels compare to the aerodynamic shape and on body solar panels of GOCE which flew in a 255 km orbit SLATS received the nickname Tsubame Japanese for barn swallow on 14 July 2017 3 According to JAXA this name was chosen as the thin elongated satellite in super low orbit with a set of solar array wings was reminiscent of a small swallow flying low SLATS was launched 23 December 2017 on a H IIA rocket alongside the GCOM C Shikisai satellite to a 630 km orbit followed by orbit lowering manoeuvres by a combination of chemical propulsion and aerobraking with final operation at an altitude below 180 km 4 SLATS was operated at 7 altitudes 271 5 and 216 8 km each for 38 days and 250 240 230 181 1 and 167 4 km each for 7 days 5 At 167 4 km the RCS thrusters were used in addition to the ion thruster to maintain altitude 5 The operation of the satellite was finished on 30 September 2019 and it was decommissioned in orbit on 1 October 2019 by terminating the communication radio and power 1 The satellite deorbited 1 October 2019 6 On 30 December 2019 Guinness World Records recognized Tsubame s achievement which reached the lowest altitude ever among Earth observation satellites 7 References edit a b 超低高度衛星技術試験機 つばめ SLATS の運用終了について in Japanese JAXA 2 October 2019 Retrieved 3 October 2019 SLATS eoPortal Retrieved 19 December 2015 気候変動観測衛星 GCOM C と超低高度衛星技術試験機 SLATS の愛称決定について Press release in Japanese JAXA July 14 2017 Retrieved August 24 2019 超低高度衛星技術試験機 SLATS の検討状況について PDF in Japanese JAXA 4 September 2013 Retrieved 2016 06 06 a b About Super Low Altitude Test Satellite TSUBAME SLATS Archived from the original on 2018 03 28 Retrieved 2020 12 21 SLATS N2YO com 26 January 2023 Retrieved 26 January 2023 The Japan Times Japan s low altitude satellite Tsubame registered in Guinness World Records 30 December 2019External links editJAXA SLATS page Archived 2018 03 28 at the Wayback Machine has images and more details JAXA Space Technology Directorate I SLATS page in Japanese nbsp This article about one or more spacecraft of Japan is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Super Low Altitude Test Satellite amp oldid 1174948158, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
