Success
TRMM & ETS 7
Earth Science
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA)Government
H-II
LEOorbit
TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) is the first space mission dedicated to quantitatively measuring tropical and subtropical rainfall which is one of the most important and least-known parameters affecting the global climate system. ETS-VII (Engineering Test Satellite, "Kiku 7") was launched aboard the H-2 No. 6 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in November 1997.mETS-VII itself comprises two satellites: "Orihime" and "Hikoboshi". "Orihime" is a target satellite weighing approximately 400 kilograms. It is placed in a fixed circular orbit at an altitude of roughly 550 kilometers. "Hikoboshi" is a chaser satellite, weighing some 2.5 tons. It moves in a variable orbit to rendezvous and dock with "Orihime". "Hikoboshi" is equipped with a six-jointed, three-clawed robot arm two meters long.
Thursday, November 27, 1997 at 9:27 PM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#4,195
JAXA Mission
#5
Pad Launch
#5
Location Launch
#29
Designator
1997-074
Launch Window
NET
Nov 27, 1997, 9:27 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
H-II Specs
The H-II rocket was a Japanese satellite launch system which flew seven times between 1994 and 1999 with 5 successes. It was developed by NASDA in order to give Japan a capability to launch larger satellites in the 1990s. It was the first two stage liquid fuelled rocket Japan made using only domestic technologies.
Length
49 m
Diameter
4 m
Launch Mass
260 t
LEO Capacity
10,060 kg
GTO Capacity
3,930 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1994
Fastest Turnaround
2mo 25d
Total Launches
7
Successful
6
Failed
1
Consecutive Success
0
Maiden flight: Feb 3, 1994
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aero-space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and the launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions, such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon. JAXA launch their Epsilon vehicle from the Uchinoura Space Center and their H-II vehicles from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Founded
2003
Administrator
Administrator: Hiroshi Yamakawa
Total Launches
37
Successful
33
Failed
4
Pending
2
Consecutive Success
2
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Tanegashima Space Center is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan. It is located on the southeastern tip of Tanegashima, an island located south of Kyushu, an island and region and Japan. It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) was formed, and is now run by JAXA. The activities that take place at TNSC include assembly, testing, launching, and tracking satellites, as well as rocket engine firing tests.
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Local Launch Time
Nov 28, 1997, 6:27 AM
Total Launches
97
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
30.4000, 130.9700