ETS (Engineering Test Satellite)

Artist's concept of ETS-8 in orbit

Satellites launched by the Japan's NASDA (National Space Development Agency) to demonstrate new spacecraft techniques and test new equipment and launch vehicles. They are also known by the national name Kiku ("chrysanthemum").

ETS-7 consisted of two spacecraft – a chase satellite (Hikoboshi) and a target satellite (Orihime) – which carried out experiments in remote-controlled rendezvous-docking and space robotics. ETS-8, scheduled for launch in 2006, will be the world's largest satellite in geostationary orbit. Among other things, it will test multimedia broadcast systems and carry a high-accuracy atomic clock to test its positioning systems using GPS (Global Positioning System) data.

spacecraft	launch date	launch vehicle	launch site	orbit	mass (kg)
ETS-1	Sep. 9, 1975	N-1	Tanegashima	975 × 1,103 km × 47°	85
ETS-2	Feb. 23, 1977	N-1	Tanegashima	35,854 × 35,860 km × 12°	130
ETS-3	Feb. 11, 1981	N-2	Tanegashima	240 × 20,680 km × 28°	640
ETS-4	Sep. 3, 1982	N-1	Tanegashima	966 × 1,226 km × 45°	385
ETS-5	Aug. 27, 1987	H-1	Tanegashima	35,770 × 35,805 km × 2°	550
ETS-6	Aug. 28, 1994	H-2	Tanegashima	failed to reach GSO	3,800
ETS-7	Nov. 28, 1997	H-2	Tanegashima	550 km × 35°	2,860

Related categories

   • JAPANESE SPACECRAFT
   • SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES
   • JAPAN IN SPACE

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