Space Flyer Unit

The Space Flyer Unit is a Japanese reusable research satellite. In their only previous use of the SFU was launched with a Japanese rocket and recaptured by the U.S. Space Shuttle.

Development

The SFU was from 1987 by three Japanese authorities developed: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization ( NEDO ), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science ( ISAS ) and the National Space Development Agency ( NASDA ).

Construction

Drive

The SFU has two separate drive systems. The Reaction Control System (RCS ) is used for position control with 4 engines to 23 N of thrust and 12 engines to 3 N thrust. The second system is called OCT ( Orbit Change Thruster ) and is used to change the orbit. It has eight engines each with 23 N thrust. Both systems use hydrazine as a fuel, a total of 750 kilograms in eight tanks.

Experiments

The SFU resulted in her first mission several experiments with it:

  • 2DSA ( Two Dimensional Solar Array experiment )
  • BIO ( Space Biology Experiment)
  • EFFU ( Exposed Facility Flyer Unit)
  • EPEX (Electric Propulsion Experiment)
  • Gdef ( Gas Dynamic Experiment Facility)
  • GHF ( Gradient Heating Furnace Experiment)
  • HVSA (High Voltage Solar Array Experiment)
  • IHF ( Isothermal Heating Furnace Experiment)
  • IRTS ( Infrared Telescope in Space ), an infrared telescope, which was cooled with liquid helium.
  • MEX ( Material Experiment in Space )
  • MHF (Mirror Heating Furnace Experiment)
  • SPDP (Space Plasma Diagnostic Package)

Mission History

The SFU was launched on 18 March 1995 by an H- II rocket into earth orbit of 330 km altitude, where the solar cells were expanded. Then the OCT engines brought the SFU in several days on the operating height of 486 km. Here, the experiments were conducted.

The return of the experiments was carried to Earth by the Space Shuttle Endeavour during mission STS -72, which was also the Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata participated. The Endeavour was launched on 11 January 1996 and the SFU approached on January 13. After the solar cells of the SFU were collapsed, but not latched completely. After several failed attempts, they were blasted for safety reasons, to avoid a sudden opened in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. Commander Brian Duffy flew Endeavour so close to the SFU approach that Wakata grasp the satellite with a robot arm and was able to maneuver into the loading bay. This maneuver was completed at 11:39 UTC. The Endeavour landed on 20 January at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center.

International Designator Orbital inclination STS-72 Brian Duffy (astronaut)
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