Author Topic: Epsilon launch - SPRINT-A, Sept.14, 2013 (0500UTC) (Read 140427 times)

jcm · « **Reply #280 on:** 09/14/2013 06:29 am »

Congratulations to JAXA!

From the velocities quoted on the feed, looks like there should be three objects in orbit - SPRINT-A and PBS,
and then the stage 3 in a lower orbit.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #281 on:** 09/14/2013 07:57 am »

SPRINT-A is now named "Hisaki" - "cape of fire" - referring to the fact that its observing targets are all under the effect of the Sun, as well as a cape near its launch site.

Artyom. · « **Reply #282 on:** 09/14/2013 09:29 am »

My congratulations

!

chewi · « **Reply #283 on:** 09/14/2013 09:40 am »

Who knows - which of the Uchinoura's launch pads was used? Kappa Pad or not?

Skyrocket · « **Reply #284 on:** 09/14/2013 09:41 am »

Quote from: chewi on 09/14/2013 09:40 am

Who knows - which of the Uchinoura's launch pads was used? Kappa Pad or not?

The modified Mu launch pad

chewi · « **Reply #285 on:** 09/14/2013 09:50 am »

Quote from: Skyrocket on 09/14/2013 09:41 am

Quote from: chewi on 09/14/2013 09:40 am
Who knows - which of the Uchinoura's launch pads was used? Kappa Pad or not?

The modified Mu launch pad

Thanks.

bolun · « **Reply #286 on:** 09/14/2013 10:10 am »

Launch Result of Epsilon-1 with SPRINT-A aboard

September 14, 2013 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-1) with the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) onboard at 2:00 p.m. on September 14 (Sat.), 2013 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Uchinoura Space Center.

The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 61 minutes and 39 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the SPRINT-A 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 launch of the Epsilon-1.

At the time of the launch, the weather was cloudy, a wind speed was 8.1 meters/second from the east-north-east and the temperature was 27.2 degrees Celsius.

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/09/20130914_epsilon_e.html

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #287 on:** 09/14/2013 10:13 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/14/2013 07:57 am

SPRINT-A is now named "Hisaki" - "cape of fire" - referring to the fact that its observing targets are all under the effect of the Sun, as well as a cape near its launch site.

OK I have got some of the translations wrong.....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPRINT-A
Solar Array Paddles Deployment and Nickname Decided

September 14, 2013 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) has deployed its solar array paddles (SAPs) normally at 15:49 p.m. today through data received at the Uchinoura Ground Station. The SPRINT-A was launched by the Epsilon-1 from the Uchinoura Space Center at 14:00 p.m. on September 14, 2013.
The satellite is currently in good health.
The SPRINT-A's nickname was also decided. It is "HISAKI" The name was chosen for the following reasons.

(1) "Hisaki" is the name of a cape in the Uchinoura area. (The cape at the tip of the Tsushiro Peninsula.)

It is the first brightened point by the rising sun in the Uchinoura area, thus the place is a symbol of a new day in Uchinoura.
It is also a place for local fishermen to pray for safety hence it is a symbol of safe navigation for boats leaving Uchinoura.
As it is a tip shape, it reminds us of the satellite configuration.

(2) Our observation targets are beyond ("saki" in Japanese) the sun ("Hi" in Japanese).

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/09/20130914_hisaki_e.html

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #288 on:** 09/14/2013 10:16 am »

Two objects have been added to the NORAD catalog:

39253/2013-049A: 808*974 km * 29.75°
39254/2013-049B: 847*1115 km * 29.70°

Lewis007 · « **Reply #289 on:** 09/14/2013 10:47 am »

High-res pix available at the JAXA site
http://jda.jaxa.jp/category_p.php?lang=e&page=&category1=1&category2=27&page_pics=50

baldusi · « **Reply #290 on:** 09/14/2013 11:37 am »

Congratulations! Second rocket to debut this year, right? Could this be the four rocket debut year?

William Graham · « **Reply #291 on:** 09/14/2013 11:43 am »

Quote from: baldusi on 09/14/2013 11:37 am

Congratulations! Second rocket to debut this year, right? Could this be the four rocket debut year?

Third, after Antares 110 and Minotaur V. Soyuz-2-1v, Antares 120, Falcon 9 v1.1 and possibly Simorgh to come.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #292 on:** 09/14/2013 04:26 pm »

Quote from: jcm on 08/28/2013 03:08 am

Quote from: blister on 08/27/2013 10:15 pm
Interigent solid locket and its revolution by Morita project manerger.
Abstract of Epsilon rocket is writted.(English and Japanese)
It is a reference that easy to understand.
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/rikou/kogata_eisei/symposium/2nd/koto/04.pdf

Very nice, with info on PBS: 280 kg mass, 95 kg prop (not clear if the 95 is included in the 280)
and bonus - FAB picture of THUNDERBIRD 3 on page 3!!!
(very sad they didn't go with that design :-))

Apparently the Epsilon project manager was inspired by the Thunderbird series during childhood!

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201309140055

sanman · « **Reply #293 on:** 09/14/2013 07:00 pm »

So this smarter, cheaper rocket was designed to use off-the-shelf technologies to reduce costs and support requirements?

jcm · « **Reply #294 on:** 09/14/2013 07:03 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 09/14/2013 04:26 pm

Quote from: jcm on 08/28/2013 03:08 am
Quote from: blister on 08/27/2013 10:15 pm
Interigent solid locket and its revolution by Morita project manerger.
Abstract of Epsilon rocket is writted.(English and Japanese)
It is a reference that easy to understand.
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/rikou/kogata_eisei/symposium/2nd/koto/04.pdf

Very nice, with info on PBS: 280 kg mass, 95 kg prop (not clear if the 95 is included in the 280)
and bonus - FAB picture of THUNDERBIRD 3 on page 3!!!
(very sad they didn't go with that design :-))

Apparently the Epsilon project manager was inspired by the Thunderbird series during childhood! http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201309140055

Awesome!! (and so was I - it is a bit scary how much of my life got determined by Thunderbirds and Dr Who...)

Rocket Science · « **Reply #295 on:** 09/14/2013 07:43 pm »

Congrats to all the teams, well done!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #296 on:** 09/14/2013 08:11 pm »

Thanks to all that covered. I - of course - messed up my scheduled and pencilled it in for Sunday morning. However, I did update William's article earlier and I'll add this to the thread now.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/japans-epsilon-launch-sprint-a/

Things are getting really busy for me, so - even if 10 of you do it - please PM me ahead of a launch if you don't see me posting.

jcm · « **Reply #297 on:** 09/15/2013 05:13 am »

Now three objects cataloged

39253 808 x 973 km KM-V2b? (third stage)
39254 847 x 1115 km PBS? (fourth stage)
39255 952 x 1156 km SPRINT-A satellite?

I expect that Space-Track will swap the identifications around once it realizes which is which.

Prober · « **Reply #298 on:** 09/15/2013 01:19 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 09/14/2013 08:11 pm

Thanks to all that covered. I - of course - messed up my scheduled and pencilled it in for Sunday morning. However, I did update William's article earlier and I'll add this to the thread now.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/japans-epsilon-launch-sprint-a/

Things are getting really busy for me, so - even if 10 of you do it - please PM me ahead of a launch if you don't see me posting.

I'll try and watch your back Chris, and help out.

jcm · « **Reply #299 on:** 09/16/2013 04:17 am »

The preliminary as-flown event times at http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/09/20130914_epsilon_j.html
are interesting - most events happened as expected but the post-boost-stage burn times are QUITE different

Burn 1:
Predicted start T+19:08 for 650s
Actual start T+21:26s for 267s, so 2.3 minutes late and only 41 percent of the duration

Burn 2:
Predicted start T+53:50 for 400s
Actual start T+54:24 for 295s, so 34s late and 74 percent of duration.

Hence total PBS burn time 562s instead of 1050s, a whopping difference. The orbits achieved
seem to be as expected, so I infer a higher than expected performance and/or better than expected
injection accuracy on the first three stages and possibly also on the PBS.