OICETS

JAXA Akari and OICETS are two separate missions launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in the early 2000s. In this article, we will discuss the details of each mission, including their launching date, objectives, technical specifications, and achievements.

JAXA Akari:

JAXA Akari, also known as the IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Surveyor), was a space telescope launched on February 21, 2006. The main objective of this mission was to conduct a survey of the entire sky in the infrared region, with a wavelength range of 1.7 to 180 micrometers. The mission was designed to provide a comprehensive view of the Universe, with a focus on understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems.

The Akari telescope had a primary mirror with a diameter of 68.5 cm and was equipped with two scientific instruments: the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) and the Infrared Camera (IRC). The FIS was designed to observe the Universe at longer wavelengths, between 50 and 180 micrometers, while the IRC covered shorter wavelengths, between 1.7 and 26 micrometers.

The Akari mission was launched by the M-V rocket from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan. The total cost of the mission was approximately 13.5 billion yen, or roughly 120 million US dollars.

During its operational lifetime, which lasted until November 2007, the Akari telescope conducted a comprehensive survey of the entire sky in the infrared region. The mission produced several groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of galaxies in the early Universe, the identification of new classes of stars and planetary systems, and the study of the interstellar medium and its role in the formation of stars.

OICETS:

OICETS, or the Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite, was a satellite launched by JAXA on August 23, 2005. The main objective of this mission was to test a new communication system that used lasers to transmit data between satellites in space.

The OICETS satellite had a mass of 580 kg and was equipped with two laser communication terminals, one for uplink and one for downlink. The terminals were designed to operate at a wavelength of 1550 nm, which is commonly used in optical fiber communication systems.

The OICETS mission was launched by the H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The total cost of the mission was approximately 13 billion yen, or roughly 117 million US dollars.

During its operational lifetime, which lasted until April 2014, the OICETS satellite conducted several successful laser communication experiments with other satellites, including the Advanced Relay and Technology Mission (ARTEMIS) satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Kirari satellite of JAXA.

The OICETS mission was a significant achievement in the development of laser communication systems for use in space. The technology has several advantages over traditional radio communication systems, including higher data rates, lower power consumption, and improved security.

In conclusion, JAXA Akari and OICETS were two important missions launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in the early 2000s. The Akari telescope provided a comprehensive view of the Universe in the infrared region and made several groundbreaking discoveries, while the OICETS satellite demonstrated the potential of laser communication systems for use in space. These missions were a significant achievement in the development of space technology and have contributed greatly to our understanding of the Universe.