News JAXA Failed to Conduct Space Tether Experiment that Aimed to Clear Space Junk

[Nicholas Kang]

Note: Original thread title was (SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLED!) JAXA "KOUNOTORI6" (HTV6) aboard H-IIB on Dec.9, 10:26 (JST) The thread title was changed to reflect the latest news.

UPDATES: Installation confirmed!

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/12/1...tery-delivery-to-international-space-station/

Mission control completed installation of the HTV on the space station at 1357 GMT (8:57 a.m. EST), when 16 bolts drove into place to create a firm connection between the supply ship and the Harmony module. Astronauts planned to open hatches leading into the HTV on Wednesday, but that could be moved up to Tuesday evening if the crew has time.

3. The HTV-6 Mission:

Developed and built in Japan, the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) known as "KOUNOTORI (white stork)" is an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft that delivers supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

With the world’s largest loading capacity of approximately six tons and such unique functions as the International Standard Racks, “KOUNOTORI” plays a key role in ISS operations.

4. Latest News:http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/batteries_loaded.html

ISS batteries loaded into KOUNOTORI6
Last Updated: July 26, 2016

From June 1-2, the operations for loading the ISS battery Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs) into the H-II Transfer Vehicle KOUNOTORI6 and filling the water bags were unveiled to the press at the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)

A Japanese-made, new lithium-ion battery cell for the ISS

HTV Exposed Pallet (EP) loaded with six ISS battery ORUs

5. Flight Schedule:

HTV6 Mission Schedule (as of October 7, 2016)
All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC + 9 hours)

Item|Description
HTV Flight Name|HTV6 (KOUNOTORI6)
Launch date and time|10:26 p.m.*1, December 9 (Friday), 2016
Launch window|December 10 - 31, 2016, 2016*2
Launch site|Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC)

*1: Time will be determined by the updated orbit of the International Space Station (ISS).
*2: The launch day and time during the launch window shall be decided by the international coordination for ISS operations.

6. Flight Profile:

7. Mission Timeline:

8. The rocket:

Pamphlet:http://global.jaxa.jp/activity/pr/brochure/files/rocket05.pdf

The design:

Characteristics:

*1-In vacuum. Solid rocket booster's thrust is set to the maximum value.

Capabilities:

Orbit|Altitude|Payloads
Orbit for HTV (Inclination:51.6 degrees)|350km-460km|16.5t

Launch Records:

9. The payload:

The HTV6 delivers a total of 5.9 metric tons of cargo to the ISS, including 3.9 metric tons in the Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC) and 1.9 metric tons in the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC).

Cargo in the Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC)
-Utilization/experiment-related items

• JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer(J-SSOD)
• 7 Microsatellites (CubeSats)
• Payload for the Two Phase Flow experiment
• Position Sensitive Tissue Equivalent Proportional Chamber (PS-TEPC)
• High Definition TV Camera - Exposed Facility 2 (HDTV-EF2)

-System supplies

• Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU)

-Cargo for the onboard crew

• Potable water
• Fresh food

Cargo in the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC)
-ISS battery Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs)

Orbital experiment hardware
-Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment (KITE)
-Solar Cell Film Array Sheet for Next Generation on Kounotori Six (SFINKS)

Waste disposal
-6 metric tons of waste and expired experiment devices that are no longer necessary.
-Old nickel-hydrogen batteries onboard that were removed from the ISS.

10. Gallery:
http://jda.jaxa.jp/category_p.php?lang=e&page=&category1=1&category2=23&category3=604&page_pics=100

For more information about Kounotori, see:http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/htv/index.html

 

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38265676

Japan has launched a cargo ship which will use a half mile- (700m)-long tether to remove some of the vast amount of debris from Earth's orbit.
The tether, made of aluminium strands and steel wire, is designed to slow the debris, pulling it out of orbit.
The innovative device was made with the help of a fishing net company.

 

[boogabooga]

The BBC article sounded exciting.

However, from what I can find about KITE, it is just an experiment to unravel and generate current in a tether. No actual space debris will be de-orbited this time.

 

[Notebook]

Yes, starting small! Quite a tricky thing to do. At least they can practice in Orbiter...

http://www.orbithangar.com/search_quick.php?text=Tethers&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

N.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

JAXA Failed to Conduct Space Tether Experiment

Spaceflightnow.com:http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/0...sion-after-space-debris-experiment-flounders/

Spaceflight101.com:http://spaceflight101.com/htv-6-end-of-mission/

Nasaspaceflight.com:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/02/htv-6-departs-iss-death-plunge/

Artist’s concept of how the tether for Japan’s KITE experiment would have appeared when deployed from the HTV supply ship. Credit: JAXA

Japanese scientists said the experiment encountered problems and the tether was never unreeled.

One of four bolts holding the end mass — a structure fixed to the end of the tether — to the HTV’s main body apparently did not release as planned Jan. 28, according to a statement by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

JAXA said telemetry data from the spacecraft indicated one of the bolts did not disengage after an initial release command, but data showed the bolt disconnected a few minutes later after further commands.

A couple of hours later, an attempt to extend the tether did not work. JAXA said ground controllers tried to unfurl it multiple times without success.

HTV Re-Entry File Image – Credit: NASA

JAXA confirmed the spacecraft plunged back into the atmosphere and burned up over the ocean around 1506 GMT (10:06 a.m. EST) Sunday.