Tokyo -- September 27, 1996 -- Officials at Japan's National Space Development Agency say they are confident that their latest satellite, the Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS), may yet overcome a series of problems that have plagued it since launch. Having struggled to attain correct orbit following a thruster malfunction, verification tests then discovered a fault on one of the satellite's major sensors.
The Interferomic Monitor for Greenhouse Gasses (IMG), developed by Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry, relies on a linear motor driven mirror that became stuck on Sep. 20.
This problem has yet to be resolved, but Hideo Hasegawa, manager of NASDA's public relations office, expressed confidence that the mirror would become operational.
A major hitch then occurred on Sep. 24 when the satellite autonomously switched to Light Load Mode, shutting down all non-essential systems, including the sensors.
An investigation revealed that cosmic radiation had affected the satellite's On-Board Computer (OBC). While the satellite was successfully switched on the following day, scientists are attempting to reprogram the OBC to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
Hasegawa confirmed that the satellite would finish verification tests in approximately two months, and said ADEOS would become fully operational eventually.
"ADEOS has been working well. We could assume that there would be a number of small problems but all of the sensors, with the exception of IMG, are working well. ADEOS has had a number of basic problems, but we have fixed most of those already," he said.
09.27.96
Related Links
SPACE.WIRE |