Kounotori 6
Mission type | ISS resupply |
---|---|
Operator | JAXA |
COSPAR ID | 2016-076A |
SATCAT no. | 41881 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | HTV |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 1 December 2016 (planned)[1] |
Rocket | H-IIB 304 |
Launch site | Tanegashima Y2 |
Contractor | Mitsubishi |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Inclination | 51.6 degrees |
Epoch | Planned |
Berthing at ISS | |
Berthing port | Harmony nadir |
Kounotori 6 (こうのとり6号機), also known as HTV-6, will be the sixth flight of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, an unmanned cargo spacecraft launched to resupply the International Space Station.
As of December 2015[update], launch is scheduled for December 1st, 2016.[1]
Spacecraft
Kounotori 6 will test several new technologies. The mission will test thin film solar cells in space.[2]
This HTV flight will also have an experimental electrodynamic tether (EDT), called KITE(Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment).[3][4] The tether is equipped with a 20 kg end-mass, and will be 700 m long when deployed.[3] A maximum 10 mA current will run through the tether.[3] Kounotori's ISS rendezvous sensor will be utilized to measure how the end-mass moves during the test.[3] The EDT experiment will be conducted following Kounotori 6's departure from the ISS, and is to be held for a week.[3] After the experiment, the tether will be separated before the spacecraft proceeds with the de-orbit maneuvers.
The main objective of this experiment is the orbital demonstration of both extending an uncoated bare-tether, and driving electric currents through the EDT.[4] These two technologies will contribute to gaining capabilities to remove space debris.[4]
References
- ^ a b Frommert, Hartmut (2015-12-17). "International Space Station Flight Schedule". SEDS. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ^ "参加者確認公募" (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 2015-01-13. Retrieved 20 March 2015.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "HTV搭載導電性テザー実証実験の検討状況について" (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 2013-09-04. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "JAXA、宇宙ゴミ除去技術の確立に向け「こうのとり」利用" (in Japanese). Response staff. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
External links
Images
- Kounotori 6 - JAXA Digital Archives
- HTV-6 & KITE
- HTV-6 & KITE