Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency April 2016 No. 10 Special Features Japan’s Technical Prowess Technical excellence and team spirit are manifested in such activities as the space station capture of the HTV5 spacecraft, development of the H3 Launch Vehicle, and reduction of sonic boom in supersonic transport International Cooperation JAXA plays a central role in international society and contributes through diverse joint programs, including planetary exploration, and the utilization of Earth observation satellites in the environmental and disaster management fields Japan’s Technical Prowess Contents No. 10 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Special Feature 1: Japan’s Technical Prowess 1−3 Welcome to JAXA TODAY Activities of “Team Japan” Connecting the Earth and Space The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is positioned as We review some of the activities of “Team the pivotal organization supporting the Japanese government’s Japan,” including the successful capture of H-II Transfer Vehicle 5 (HTV5), which brought overall space development and utilization program with world- together JAXA, NASA and the International Space Station (ISS). leading technology. JAXA undertakes a full spectrum of activities, from basic research through development and utilization. 4–7 In 2013, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of its estab- 2020: The H3 Launch Vehicle Vision JAXA is currently pursuing the development lishment, JAXA defined its management philosophy as “utilizing of the H3 Launch Vehicle, which is expected space and the sky to achieve a safe and affluent society” and to become the backbone of Japan’s space development program and build strong adopted the new corporate slogan “Explore to Realize.” Under- international competitiveness. We examine the H3’s unique features and the development program’s pinned by this philosophy, JAXA pursues a broad range of pro- objectives. grams in the aerospace and research and development fields. 8–9 With the aim of disseminating information about JAXA’s A Genuine Step toward the Realization of the Next Generation of Supersonic Transport activities and recent news relating to Japan’s space develop- With reduction of sonic boom being a critical ment programs to as wide an audience as possible, we launched issue in the realization of a new generation of supersonic transport, JAXA has conducted JAXA TODAY in January 2010. a successful flight test demonstration of its low-sonic-boom design concept. We explain the test and its potential contribution to the formulation of international sonic boom standards. Special Feature 2: To All Our Readers International Cooperation 10−11 My name is Yoshikazu Shoji, and on January 1, Japan and Europe Cooperate to Investigate the 2016, I was appointed as Director of the JAXA Mysteries of Mercury —An Unknown World Public Affairs Department. I wish to express my BepiColombo is a joint mission of the appreciation to all of you who have taken the European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA to explore the planet Mercury, with each agency time to look at the latest issue of JAXA TODAY. taking responsibility for the development of a space probe. We introduce the objectives and JAXA carries out a substantial amount significance of the mission. of its work in collaboration with many inter- 12–15 Yoshikazu Shoji national partners. From that perspective, I Special Feature 1: Director of the JAXA recognize the importance of achieving an Utilizing Earth Observation Satellites to Help Public Affairs Department Build a Better Future for Humankind even deeper understanding of the programs By utilizing data from Earth observation satellites in such fields pursued by JAXA among a broad range of people outside Japan. Japan’s Technical Prowess as disaster management and environmental conservation, JAXA is helping to build a The goal of JAXA TODAY is to provide an easy-to-understand, cur- safe and secure future for people the world over. Two JAXA managers discuss several of rent snapshot of some of the key activities of JAXA. I am happy when a Activities of “Team Japan” Connecting the key programs in which they have been new reader of JAXA TODAY gains a greater level of understanding of the involved. space development, space science research and aeronautical technology the Earth and Space 16–17 research undertaken by JAXA. Moving beyond Its First Decade, JAXA Sets With this as a starting point, nothing would give me greater pleasure Since the European Space Agency (ESA) retired the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) in February 2015, the mission of Course on a New Stage of Its Journey than this publication being helpful for generating a deeper knowledge of Since its establishment in October 2003, resupplying the International Space Station (ISS) has fallen on the three remaining programs. These are operated by and the transition in April 2015 to a new Japan as a country among our readers. legal status as a National Research and JAXA, NASA and Roscosmos, respectively. The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)—nicknamed “KOUNOTORI” (white stork) in Development Agency, JAXA has steadily Japanese—is Japan’s resupply spacecraft for the ISS. It has established a sound track record of safely transporting a built up a record of accomplishments in the aerospace field and in research and variety of large-scale equipment and high-volume supplies. Hence, the HTV program continues to grow in importance. In development. Internationally, JAXA has won a high level of trust as a space agency. We recap the challenges of JAXA’s first particular, Japan’s original technology for spacecraft rendezvous and capture has become one of the world standards in dozen years. this field. The technology involves using the ISS robotic arm (Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS); also known by its primary component, Canadarm2) to safely grapple and birth the HTV. 18 Cover Story In this special feature, we report on the activities of “Team Japan,” focusing on the capture of HTV5 in August Liaison Diary: Thailand H-II Transfer Vehicle 5 (HTV5) Awaits Separation from the International Masanobu Tsuji, director of the JAXA Bangkok Office, has returned Space Station (ISS) 2015. This rendezvous and capture involved close collaboration among personnel working at the JAXA Tsukuba Space to work in Thailand after a two-decade hiatus. He talks about the On September 28, 2015, in preparation for separation the following day, HTV5 is differences between his past and present roles, and his lifestyle grappled by Canadarm2 and detached from the ISS. Center (TKSC) in Japan, the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Texas and on the ISS. in Bangkok. (© JAXA / NASA) 1 JAXA TODAY No. 10 Japan’s Technical Prowess Astronaut Yui operated the SSRMS to bring the tip of UNOOSA initiated collaboration on September 8, 2015, to the robotic arm near to the Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture provide opportunities for the deployment of CubeSats. The “Team Japan” (FRGF)—a special-purpose component on the exterior of two parties will cooperate in efforts to offer opportunities the HTV. When the tip of the robotic arm got within a few to developing countries for CubeSat deployment from JEM meters, the HTV attitude control thrusters were shut off, put- Kibo. This aims to contribute to progress in space-related Leverages Its Strength in Unity ting the spacecraft into free drift. In this state, since the HTV technology in participating countries. gradually drifts in accordance with the law of inertia, it must be captured during a 90-second window. The excellent level of coordination among “Team Japan” members has been a crucial factor driving the success of In this brief time, Astronaut Yui skillfully maneuvered the robotic arm to successfully capture the HTV. At 19:29 JST, as numerous important missions. Recent examples include the capture of HTV5—a particularly tension-filled operation— people around the world looked on in anticipation, the HTV and the deployment of small satellites from Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo. was captured thanks to the unified strength of “Team Japan.” CubeSat Deployment “KOUNOTORI” (White Stork) Flies to Its meters, HTV5 temporarily ceased its ascent to confirm safety. ISS Perch At 19:22 JST, HTV5 was in a stationary position relative to On September 17, 2015, using the JEM-Small Satellite Orbital the ISS, orbiting 10 meters directly below. Deployer (J-SSOD) on JEM Kibo of the ISS, two CubeSats HTV5 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center The HTV Control Center reported to Houston: “HTV is were deployed—SERPENS (developed by the University of (TNSC) on August 19, 2015. After a successful flight with no go for capture. HTV5 has arrived at its preassigned position, Brasilia and the Brazilian Space Agency) and S-CUBE (de- major hitches, the resupply spacecraft arrived at its Approach and everything is proceeding veloped by the Chiba Institute of Technology). Among all of Initiation (AI) point, orbiting 5 km behind the ISS, on smoothly.” On hearing this, the ISS’ modules, only JEM Kibo—which has both an airlock August 24 at 15:58 (Japanese Standard Time; JST). Astronaut Wakata immediately and a robotic arm—is able to deploy CubeSats in this way. The HTV Control Center at TKSC—spearheaded by sent the command to the ISS S-CUBE was deployed at 21:02 JST by Astronaut Yui op- HTV5 lead flight director Mayumi Matsuura—was already to “Go for capture.” The reply erating the deployment command aboard JEM Kibo. Then, at in joint operations with NASA’s International Space Station from the ISS came from NASA 21:12 JST, the JAXA Flight Control Team (JFCT) at TKSC Flight Control Room in Houston, Texas. In Houston, Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, who issued the command that deployed SERPENS. JAXA Astronaut Koichi Wakata had the role of Capsule was assisting Astronaut Yui. Communicator (CAPCOM)—the lead communicator tasked “We will now begin the capture Collaboration with the United Nations Office with conveying instructions to the ISS.