JAXA - Akatsuki - Venus Climate Orbiter (PLANET-C)

[TheFallen]

I hope they deploy that free-floating camera soon.  Totally looking forward to seeing IKAROS in all its kite-shaped beauty

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/index.php?itemid=595

[TheFallen]

Looks like the first of two free-floating cameras (DCAM 2) will be deployed from IKAROS today

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=629

[Fuji]

Looks like the first of two free-floating cameras (DCAM 2) will be deployed from IKAROS today

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=629

DCAM 2 was deployd and transmit the photo data.
DCAM is battery powerd, so operation is already end. World smallest interplanetary satellite. (Next will be DCAM 1 deploy)
DCAM 2 photo data was transmit to the Ikaros and relayed to downlink.
These photo data will be recieved and prosessed 1 to 2 days.

[Silmfeanor]

Looks like the first of two free-floating cameras (DCAM 2) will be deployed from IKAROS today

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=629

DCAM 2 was deployd and transmit the photo data.
DCAM is battery powerd, so operation is already end. World smallest interplanetary satellite. (Next will be DCAM 1 deploy)
DCAM 2 photo data was transmit to the Ikaros and relayed to downlink.
These photo data will be recieved and prosessed 1 to 2 days.

Wow, thanks for this information!

I wonder, from how far away does this mini-probe take a picture? and from what corner / point of view?

[TheFallen]

Looks like the first of two free-floating cameras (DCAM 2) will be deployed from IKAROS today

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=629

DCAM 2 was deployd and transmit the photo data.
DCAM is battery powerd, so operation is already end. World smallest interplanetary satellite. (Next will be DCAM 1 deploy)
DCAM 2 photo data was transmit to the Ikaros and relayed to downlink.
These photo data will be recieved and prosessed 1 to 2 days.

1 or 2 days?  But I want it NOW!!  I kid

Anyways, DCAM 2 (and 1) are deployed from the front (Sun-facing side) of IKAROS... If things worked as plan, the camera should've taken images up to a distance where it captured a full shot of the solar sail.

[Ben the Space Brit]

IKAROS successfully deploys sail!

Well done to the IKAROS team and all the people at JAXA for their work on this project! Another step closer to the dream of Arthur C Clarke!

[jcm]

Does anyone know mass and size of the DCAM subsatellites?

[Fuji]

Does anyone know mass and size of the DCAM subsatellites?

Photo of the DCAM are here. very tiny subsatellites.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=18950.msg592901#msg592901

2nd photo shows size comparison Ikaros and DCAM

[Fuji]

Finally, DCAM 2 photo released in the Japanese press release.
(English version will be issued later)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100616_ikaros_j.html

[Robotbeat]

Finally, DCAM 2 photo released in the Japanese press release.
(English version will be issued later)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100616_ikaros_j.html

Cool!

[jcm]

Does anyone know mass and size of the DCAM subsatellites?

Photo of the DCAM are here. very tiny subsatellites.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=18950.msg592901#msg592901

2nd photo shows size comparison Ikaros and DCAM

OK, so 6 cm in size and maybe I'm guessing half a kilo.

[Silmfeanor]

Finally, DCAM 2 photo released in the Japanese press release.
(English version will be issued later)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100616_ikaros_j.html

That looks just so awesome. Thanks!

[Fuji]

English press release was released.
Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator 'IKAROS' Successful Image Shooting by Separation Camera
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100616_ikaros_e.html


More photos here (but Japanese). It's great.
http://www.jspec.jaxa.jp/ikaros_channel/bn006.html

DCAM operatinal time is 15 minutes (Due to battery life).

[Norm Hartnett]

Lovely video that shows planned operations of IKAROS. Some nice detail of planned maneuvering techniques towards the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_6HOqBkP2o...player_embedded

[TheFallen]

IKAROS' spin rate has decreased from 2.5 rpm to 1.1 rpm to allow better stability of the sail membrane as it gets tested for attitude control

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/

[TheFallen]

Hm. I thought DCAM1 was already jettisoned... I guess not

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=646

Since IKAROS is spinning at only 1.1 rpm, I would assume the deployment of DCAM1 will be much more stable than that of DCAM2...and that IKAROS will be better framed (much more centered) in the DCAM1 images this time around

[akari]

Hm. I thought DCAM1 was already jettisoned... I guess not

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=646

Since IKAROS is spinning at only 1.1 rpm, I would assume the deployment of DCAM1 will be much more stable than that of DCAM2...and that IKAROS will be better framed (much more centered) in the DCAM1 images this time around

They just finished the rehearsal of DCAM1 separation.
DCAM1 will be jettisoned this evening.
Since the strength of the separation spring of DCAM1 is weak, it can take a photograph for a long time than DCAM2.

And since a photograph is taken from the front, reflection of sunlight is stronger than DCAM2 and overexposure is expected.
However, it may be good for the check of LCD.

I wanted to see a self-portrait with the Venus background.
But temperature may exceed a limit.

[AdamH]

They mention something about the GAP ray observer experiment.

(Translated: "And today is one of the optional equipment GAP (ray observer) conducted a launch. GAP operating room and people have also come to the charge of Kanazawa University, now a bustling operation.")

Anyone know more details about that?

[Norm Hartnett]

Only thing I know about GAP is that it is located on the side facing away from the Sun on the main housing.

They have increased the spin rate to 1.4 rpm today trying to find the optimum balance between light pressure and spin rate. I am very curious to see what effect the LCD's have once they begin activating them.

They have also confirmed that the pictures were received by IKAROS from DCAM1 but have only downloaded one to Earth so far.

[AnalogMan]

They mention something about the GAP ray observer experiment.

(Translated: "And today is one of the optional equipment GAP (ray observer) conducted a launch. GAP operating room and people have also come to the charge of Kanazawa University, now a bustling operation.")

Anyone know more details about that?

GAP (Gamma-ray burst Polarimeter): The objective is to observe polarization of gamma-ray bursts (GRB) and to determine the direction of the GRB.

Here is a link to the GAP home page via the Google translator:

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://astro.s.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/~yonetoku/gap/index.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522GAP%2522%2B%2522gamma%2Bray%2522%2B%2522ikaros%2522%26num%3D100%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&usg=ALkJrhimTKrne2kC3w-49tN9Jtf3VC9-Bw

And attached is a technical presentation of GAP (it has good photos of the hardware in it).