EGS (Ajisai)

EGS [NASDA]

The EGS (Experimental Geodetic Satellite) mission has 2 primary objectives. The first objective, which was short term, was testing of JAXA's H-1, 2-stage, launch vehicle. The second and primary long term objective was to determine the exact positions of the many isolated Japanese Islands. Ajisai can also be used for directional and photometric observations, using the mirrors equipped on the surface of satellite.

EGS was renamed Ajisai after reaching orbit.

Satellite laser ranging to Ajisai is used to precision orbit determination and is used to improve the gravity field.

Ajisai has the following instrumentation onboard:

  • 318 Mirrors
  • retro-reflector array (RRA) consistings of 1436 cube corners
Nation: Japan
Type / Application: Geodesy
Operator: NASDA
Contractors:
Equipment: 318 Mirrors, retro-reflector array (RRA)
Configuration: Sphere
Propulsion: None
Power: None
Lifetime:
Mass: 685 kg
Orbit: 1479 km × 1496 km, 50.01
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
EGS (Ajisai) 1986-061A 12.08.1986 Ta LP-N H-1 (9 SO) with JAS 1a, MABES

Launch Sites:

  • Ta =   Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Japan   Japan

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