JAXA Engineering Test Satellite ETS-VIII (Kiku 8) is the eighth technology test satellite in a series which started with ETS-1 in 1975 by NASDA. It was launched with the H-2A on December 18, 2006.
ETS-VIII was developed by JAXA in cooperation with NICT and NTT.
The aim of ETS-VIII is to enable satellite communications with small terminals. Unlike the Iridium satellites for mobile communication, ETS-VIII is positioned at GEO.
However to fulfill the task the satellite must carry two very large antennas. It was the first use of the 204 configuration (four strap-on boosters) of the H-IIA launch vehicle.
Timetable
December 20, 2000: Launch of LDREX, a demonstration of the large antenna reflector deployment, aboard Ariane 5. Deployment failed.
October 14, 2006 Launch of LDREX-2 with the Ariane 5, model antenna deployed successfully.
December 18, 2006: ETS-VIII was launched aboard H-IIA.
December 26, 2006 Both antennas were deployed. [1]
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
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