Full Version: IKAROS JAXA Solar Sail mission
no need to apologize. great news indeed!
Thoroughly confirmed! IKAROS is alive!
a release in English http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/topics_e.html
in fact Emily I think there is a small error in your blog post:
but actually:
I have seen somewhere 24 December 2011 as the date of the last contact. If only I could remember where...
in fact Emily I think there is a small error in your blog post:
QUOTE
January 6, 2012 was the last time JAXA had contact with IKAROS
but actually:
QUOTE
The IKAROS was confirmed to have shifted itself into hibernation mode (or shutting down its onboard equipment due to low power generation) sometime before Jan. 6, 2012.
I have seen somewhere 24 December 2011 as the date of the last contact. If only I could remember where...
according to the latest blog entry http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/IKAROS-blog/?itemid=1002 reviving of IKAROS has been progressing slowly. they recently switched communications from the LGA to the MGA, which will probably mean that telemetry data should now start streaming at a much faster rate
Disorganization of project teams, Space missions "Hayabusa" and "Ikaros"
IKAROS project team disbanded. I am told that tracking support should continue
IKAROS project team disbanded. I am told that tracking support should continue
it looks like IKAROS was contacted again on 22 May
http://www.jaxa.jp/topics/2014/index_j.html#news2460
http://www.jaxa.jp/topics/2014/index_j.html#news2460
My wife's rough translation is that it's over 200 million km from Earth & hasn't been receiving enough solar power to operate; she used the word "sleep". Apparently in June it's expected to operate well enough to return (I assume) engineering data, but 7 months from now that'll be effectively EOM.
(Again, VERY rough translation; Kay wants to always state that she's got no background at all in space-related matters, and modern Japanese slang (esp. of the Net variety) is unfamiliar to her.)
(Again, VERY rough translation; Kay wants to always state that she's got no background at all in space-related matters, and modern Japanese slang (esp. of the Net variety) is unfamiliar to her.)
Has anything more been said about the proposed late 2010s successor mission to Jupiter & the Trojan asteroids? Is that still planned?
and an English release: IKAROS wakes up from hibernation mode for third time
Just wondering... if Ikaros - like now - is still operating in early 2017, wouldn't it by orbital mechanics be doing another flyby of Venus at that point (10 Venus orbits or 7 Ikaros orbits after the Dec 2010 flyby)?
Ikaros has so far come out of hibernation during these perihelion phases, right (sometime around... now, this year)?
Ikaros has so far come out of hibernation during these perihelion phases, right (sometime around... now, this year)?
That might depend on the solar sail effect on the orbit - even if not intentionally 'sailed' during those orbits, the sail may have an effect, and the orbit may not be as straightforward as another spacecraft's would be.
Phil
Phil
IKAROS wakes up from hibernation mode for the 4th time
signal received last April 23
signal received last April 23
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