Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer
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This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (March 2009) |
The Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) (財団法人無人宇宙実験システム研究開発機構) is a Japanese space agency, which was founded by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1986. Unlike NASDA, ISAS, and NAL, it was not included in the 2003 founded JAXA organization. USEF is run as a Non Profit Organization. Chairman is Ichiro Taniguchi.
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[edit] Aim
The aim of USEF is technology development, especially the testing of Commercial off the shelve parts (COTS), robotics, material sciences and technology for optical earth observations.
[edit] Launch Vehicle
Unlike the JAXA organisation USEF doesn't have its own launch vehicle. Instead it used either the H-IIA, the M-3S or Russian rockets so far. However in 2008 METI mentioned about the possibility of USEF developing an air launched vehicle for small payloads. [1]
[edit] Missions
[edit] Express
An 745 kg (1,642 lb) satellite for microgravity experiments and testing of re-entry technologies. The project was done in cooperation with ISAS (now JAXA) and DLR of Germany. Launch vehicle was the M-3S on January 15, 1995. However due to a problem with the rocket, the orbit was much lower than planned. The re-entry capsule was found later in Ghana. [2]
[edit] Servis 1
An 840 kg (1,851 lb) technology test mission for COTS parts. It was launched on October 30, 2001 with the Russian Rockot launch vehicle. Mission duration was two years. [3]
[edit] USERS
It was launched with the H-IIA on September 10, 2002. The aim of the mission were microgravity experiments to perform Super-conductor Material Processing Experiment and also testing of satellite bus technologies. For the first part of the mission USERS carried a return capsule. It was retrieved successfully on May 29, 2003. The mission of the main orbiter ended through re-entry in 2007. [4]
[edit] Servis 2
An 900 kg (1,984 lb) technology test mission for COTS parts. It will continue the experiments done with the first satellite. It was launched on June 2, 2010, 01:59 UTC with the Russian Rockot launch vehicle.[5][6][7]
[edit] Planned Missions
[edit] Asnaro
Asnaro is a 450 kg (992 lb) earth observation satellite. The planned resolution is less than 0.5 meter (1.6 ft) from an SSO orbit. Launch is planned for 2011. However no launch vehicle is chosen yet. [8]
[edit] Servis 3
Test of COTS parts. Follow-up mission to Servis 1 and 2. Launch is planned for 2013. [9]
[edit] Asnaro 2
Asnaro 2 is small x-band radar satellite for earth observation. Launch is planned for 2013. [10]
[edit] Other technology projects
USEF developed the robotic arm of the ETS-VII project to test docking technology in the 1990s.
[edit] References
- ^ [1] http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS6/SESSIONS/SESSION%20V/5004_MATSUDA/5004P.pdf
- ^ [2] http://www.usef.or.jp/english/f3_project/express/f3_express.html
- ^ [3] http://www.usef.or.jp/english/f3_project/servis/f3_servis.html
- ^ [4] http://www.usef.or.jp/english/f3_project/users/f3_users.html
- ^ [5] http://www.usef.or.jp/english/f3_project/users/f3_users.html
- ^ [6] http://www.eurockot.com/alist.asp?cnt=20040999&main=5
- ^ "実証衛星2号機（SERVIS-2）打ち上げ成功" (in Japanese). June 3, 2010. http://www.usef.or.jp/project/servis/servis-2_0603.pdf. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ^ [7] http://www.usef.or.jp/english/f3_project/asnaro/f3_asnaro.html
- ^ [8]ftp://200.37.254.51/pub/METI%20Space%20Policy.pdf
- ^ [9]ftp://200.37.254.51/pub/METI%20Space%20Policy.pdf
[edit] External links
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