October 5th 05, 02:23 AM
http://www.isas.ac.jp/e/snews/2005/1004.shtml
Current Status of Hayabusa Spacecraft
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
October 4, 2005
Excerpts:
o On September 30th, Hayabusa descended to the distance of 6.8 km,
Home Position, and entered into a new flight phase.
o On that day, Hayabusa fired its RCS engines about 5cm/second to
raise the altitude again to keep its relative position within
a certain control box.
o Hayabusa will make higher latitude imaging as well as inspection of
touching-down candidate points for a month.
o Every scientific instrument functions normally.
Current status of Spacecraft
o As already reported, Hayabusa lost one reaction wheel (X-axis) on
July 31st and has taken an alternate flight mode using two wheels
for attitude stabilization.
o On October 3rd, another Y-axis reaction wheel was found not
functioning. The incident occurred at 23:08 JST on Oct. 2nd,
while it is not operated from Japan.
On the malfunction of Y-axis wheel
o When the incident occurred, Hayabusa was under the autonomous
asteroid tracking mode. The task was with no trouble compensated
by RCS (chemical engines) and the observation has been maintained.
o Currently, Hayabusa continues the attitude stabilization using
one wheel plus two RCS engines. And subsequent observation plan is
studied after adequate amount of information is gathered.
o Note, Z-axis wheel has not problem from launch and in good health.
Affect to Further Hayabusa Flight Activity
o Still under detailed study
o Fortunately, global mapping is almost completed.
o In terms of guidance and navigation, Hayabusa uses radio
measurements,
and no problem is foreseen.
o Operation team is analyzing how to reduce fuel comsumption for
attitude
stabilization.
o Activity plan will be updated and reported, as soon as the strategy
is
fixed.
Flight Schedule Ahead
o In the middle of October, high latitude observation and landing
site
inspection are planned
o In November, a rehearsal and two touching-down samplings are
performed.
o At the beginnig of December, Hayabusa departs for Earth, returning
samples of Itokawa in June of 2007.
Current Status of Hayabusa Spacecraft
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
October 4, 2005
Excerpts:
o On September 30th, Hayabusa descended to the distance of 6.8 km,
Home Position, and entered into a new flight phase.
o On that day, Hayabusa fired its RCS engines about 5cm/second to
raise the altitude again to keep its relative position within
a certain control box.
o Hayabusa will make higher latitude imaging as well as inspection of
touching-down candidate points for a month.
o Every scientific instrument functions normally.
Current status of Spacecraft
o As already reported, Hayabusa lost one reaction wheel (X-axis) on
July 31st and has taken an alternate flight mode using two wheels
for attitude stabilization.
o On October 3rd, another Y-axis reaction wheel was found not
functioning. The incident occurred at 23:08 JST on Oct. 2nd,
while it is not operated from Japan.
On the malfunction of Y-axis wheel
o When the incident occurred, Hayabusa was under the autonomous
asteroid tracking mode. The task was with no trouble compensated
by RCS (chemical engines) and the observation has been maintained.
o Currently, Hayabusa continues the attitude stabilization using
one wheel plus two RCS engines. And subsequent observation plan is
studied after adequate amount of information is gathered.
o Note, Z-axis wheel has not problem from launch and in good health.
Affect to Further Hayabusa Flight Activity
o Still under detailed study
o Fortunately, global mapping is almost completed.
o In terms of guidance and navigation, Hayabusa uses radio
measurements,
and no problem is foreseen.
o Operation team is analyzing how to reduce fuel comsumption for
attitude
stabilization.
o Activity plan will be updated and reported, as soon as the strategy
is
fixed.
Flight Schedule Ahead
o In the middle of October, high latitude observation and landing
site
inspection are planned
o In November, a rehearsal and two touching-down samplings are
performed.
o At the beginnig of December, Hayabusa departs for Earth, returning
samples of Itokawa in June of 2007.