December 27, 2006 Updated
KIKU No. 8 completes LDR deployment moving to the Initial Functional Verification Phase
The KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII), which was injected into the drift orbit after four rounds of apogee engine firing, started to deploy the receiving antenna of its large deployable antenna reflector (LDR) at 5:31p.m. on Dec. 25 and the sending antenna at 6:56 p.m. on Dec. 26. Both these antennas were confirmed to be successfully deployed through telemetry data and images from onboard cameras sent from the satellite on the respective days. At 4:14 a.m. on the 27th, the attitude control mode was shifted to the regular control mode to advance to the initial functional verification phase.
December 26, 2006 Updated
More celebrities participating in the SELENE
The "SELENE" is a lunar orbiter scheduled to be launched in the Summer of 2007. JAXA is carrying out a campaign to collect the names and messages to send them to the Moon on the "SELENE." In addition to Mr. Masahiro Kawai, coach of the pro baseball team Chunichi Dragons, more and more celebrities are becoming interested in the campaign. Mr. Hiroshi Aoshima, a composer and pianist, Mr. Yoshiyuki Tatsumi of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, JAMSTEC, and Sakana-Kun (or Mr. Fish who is famous for his abundant knowledge of fish) are participating in the campaign.Sakana-Kun gave us a very pleasant comment, "Wow! Amazing! It is really romantic! Can I register the names of fish?"
We are accepting names and messages until Jan. 31 through the Internet or by postcard.
December 21, 2006 Updated
SELENE
The "SELENE" is a lunar orbiter scheduled to be launched in the Summer of 2007. JAXA is carrying out a campaign to collect names and messages to send them to the Moon on the "SELENE."On Dec. 15, Mr. Masahiro Kawai, coach for the pro baseball team Chunichi Dragons, visited JAXA i for this campaign. We are looking forward to receiving many heartful messages.
We are accepting names and messages until Jan. 31 through the Internet or by postcard.
December 21, 2006 Updated
KIKU No. 8 currently flying on its transfer orbit
The KIKU No. 8 launched by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 11 at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time) has successfully deployed its solar array paddles and is now flying on its transfer orbit. The satellite is firing its apogee engine to inject itself to the drift orbit. For the latest information about the KIKU No. 8, please read our Special Site.December 18, 2006 Updated
KIKU No. 8 deployed solar array paddles
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received signals from "KIKU No. 8" at the Santiago Station in Chile and the Maspalomas Station in the Canary Islands (the Kingdom of Spain). Through the received signals and images, we have confirmed that solar array paddles have been deployed and sun acquisition was successfully performed.The "KIKU No. 8" was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006, Japan Standard Time (JST.) The satellite is now in good condition, and operations are progressing smoothly.
December 18, 2006 Updated
KIKU No. 8/H-IIA F11 successful launch and payload injection
The H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 11 (H-IIA F11) with the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8" (ETS-VIII) onboard was launched at 3:32 p.m. on December 18, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST.) The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 28 minutes after liftoff, the "KIKU No. 8" separation was confirmed.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 of the H-IIA F11.
December 18, 2006 Updated
We are now ready for launch!
The launch countdown has started for the KIKU No. 8/ H-IIA F11 in Tanegashima. The scheduled launch time is 3:32 p.m. The preparation status is being updated under the "Countdown Report" in the special site for the launch. The live launch report will start at 2:30 p.m. You can enjoy the report through the Internet, at some JAXA broadcast sites, on big screens on the streets, in science museums, and via cable TV.December 16, 2006 Updated
Launch postponement of the KIKU No. 8/H-IIA F11
The launch of the KIKU No. 8/H-IIA F11 scheduled on Dec. 16 has been postponed due to clouds including a freezing layer observed above the launch site. There is little possibility for the weather to recover by the time of the launch.The new launch date has been set for December 18 (Mon), 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST). The scheduled launch time is between 3:32 thru 3:44 p.m. (JST.)
December 15, 2006 Updated
Live launch broadcast
The KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII) and H-IIA F11 are ready for tomorrow's launch. JAXA will broadcast the launch live from the studio in Tanegashima with comments and explanations by JAXA employees.The live broadcast will be provided in various ways, namely through the Internet, at special broadcast sites, on big screens on streets, in science museums, and on Cable TV, for as many people as possible to enjoy it. The broadcast is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.
*The broadcast time schedule is subject to change due to the operation status, weather conditions and other factors on the launch day.
December 11, 2006 Updated
KIKU No. 8 onboard the H-IIA
Launch preparation operations are underway for the KIKU No. 8 at the Tanegashima Space Center.After the mating with the PAF at the SFA, the satellite was encapsulated with the fairing, and loaded onto the launch vehicle. The KIKU No. 8 is now ready for the countdown. Its condition will be monitored and maintained by remote equipment until launch.
December 8, 2006 Updated
Encapsulated KIKU No. 8 moved to the VAB Countdown to launch
The "KIKU No. 8 (ETS-VIII)," which had been encapsulated by fairing at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building (SFA), left the SFA for the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the night of Dec. 7. The transportation went smoothly. In the VAB, the encapsulated KIKU No. 8 will be loaded onto the launch vehicle to be ready for the coming launch. December 1, 2006 Updated
SELENE "WISH UPON THE MOON" Campaign
JAXA invites you to send your name and message to be delivered to the Moon. The campaign aims to make people feel more familiar with the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (or Moon explorer) "SELENE" project. Your names and messages will be delivered to the Moon on the "SELENE."This is a worldwide campaign in cooperation with The Planetary Society of Japan and The Planetary Society of the U.S.A.
We can accept names and messages until January 31, 2007. We are looking forward to many entries.