QZS-3 (MICHIBIKI No. 3) – H-2A (F35) – Танегасима – 19.08.2017 05:29 UTC

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В подлунном свете...

大塚実GO‏ @ots_min 10 сек назад

射点には月が出ていた

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Ускорители

大塚実GO‏ @ots_min 9 мин.9 минут назад

ブースタ4本は男のロマン

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Для отчетности:
Вывоз начат в 00:01 JST
Вывоз завершён в 00:25 JST

ネコビデオ ビジュアル ソリューションズ‏ @nvslive 11 мин. назад

H-2Aロケット35号機の機体移動は0:01に開始され0:25に終了しました。#nvslive #H2AF35

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http://spaceflight101.com/h-iia-qzs-3/qzs-3-h-iia-launch-preview/

Navigation Augmentation Satellite Ready for Liftoff atop Japanese H-IIA Rocket
August 11, 2017

A satellite designed to improve navigation availability and accuracy over Japan is ready for launch on Saturday atop an H-IIA rocket blasting off fr om the country's picturesque Tanegashima Space Center. Michibiki-3 is the third satellite to join the Quasi Zenith Satellite System designed to augment the U.S. Global Positioning System and Europe's Galileo for users in Japan's urban canyons and improve navigation accuracy throughout the Asia-Pacific Region.

Спойлер

Photo: @shinnosuke0113 on Twitter

>> Live Launch Coverage

2017 is a big year for the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) with three satellites set to join the initial prototype spacecraft launched in 2010 to establish the fully operational system consisting of three satellites in specialized elliptical orbits with high elevation angles for Japan and a single bird in Geostationary Orbit to provide 24/7 augmentation over a broad region. The deployment of the operational QZS constellation marks the culmination of 15 years of development work and more additions are planned later on to deliver further availability and accuracy enhancements.


QZS-3 Satellite – Photo: QZSS Project

Saturday's launch has an exceptionally long window opening at 4:40 UTC and extending eight and a half hours to send QZS-3 into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit to become the sole GEO satellite of the constellation as a constant navigation beacon over the Asia-Pacific Region. As the heaviest of the QZS satellites, Michibiki-3 rides on an H-IIA 204 rocket that enlists the help of four solid rocket boosters to send the 4,700-Kilogram craft on its way. H-IIA will be in action for 28 minutes and 40 seconds to dispatch QZS-3 into its highly elliptical target orbit via two burns of the rocket's upper stage.

Development of the Quasi Zenith Satellite System started back in 2002 with the overall objective of increasing the availability of GPS navigation services, particularly in the country's urban canyons wh ere tall buildings block all GPS satellites that are not at high elevation, potentially causing interruptions in service. To that end, QZSS proposed to establish a three-satellite constellation in a specialized orbit that places one satellite directly over Japan at any given time.


Illustration of GPS Availability Enhancement in Japan's Urban Canyons – Image: JAXA

The QZSS satellites are designed to deliver two types of signals – GPS-compatible navigation signals and GPS augmentation messages that can be used by ground receivers to more accurately calculate user position. Through the GPS-compatible messages in the L1, L2 and L5 bands, the QZSS satellite can be treated as an additional member of the GPS constellation at high elevation angle from all locations in Japan, increasing availability of GPS.

The GPS augmentation approach followed by QZSS is similar to that of the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System in that a number of ground stations monitor variability in GPS signals – caused by clock errors and ionospheric delay – and provide correction messages to a high-altitude satellite that immediately relays them to augmentation-enabled receivers on the ground to increase location accuracy to around one meter.

The first QZS satellite served as a pathfinder and underwent extensive signal characterization and fine tuning before being moved into active service nine months after launch. Studies showed that GPS accuracy was improved by a factor of 2.5 when QZS-1 was overhead and transmitting augmentation code. These results prompted JAXA to order three DS-2000-based satellites from manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric in 2013 for a total of $526 million to establish the QZSS constellation for 24/7 augmentation services, also expanding from an initial three-satellite design to a four-satellite constellation with one craft in Geostationary Orbit to broaden the accuracy augmentation zone to the entire Asia-Pacific Region.

>> QZSS Satellite and Constellation Overview


Image: Mitsubishi Electric

QZS-3 as the geostationary member of the constellation weighs 4,700 Kilograms and measures 5.4 x 3.2 x 4.1 meters in size when in its stowed configuration and 19 meters from tip to tip when extending its two power-generating solar arrays. At the heart of the satellite sits a pair of redundant Rubidium Atomic Clocks that provide the ultra-stable timing needed in the generation of regular GPS navigation messages. Japan received clearance from the U.S. in 2006 to use the GPS navigation bands as well as the L1-SAIF augmentation signal architecture.

QZSS takes a unique spot in the satellite spectrum in that it is designed to augment another satellite constellation but moves beyond acting as a bent-pipe relay of ground-generated augmentation signals and in-fact delivers navigation signals of its own. The QZSS constellation will also be capable of augmentation for the European Galileo navigation constellation that will become operational before the end of the decade. QZSS itself will be fully operational by mid-2018 and JAXA plans to add another three satellites in the 2020s to further increase GPS availability in Japan's urban canyons.


Image: JAXA

The launch of the QZS-3 satellite will be the fourth flight of the H-II rocket family in 2017, having already lifted the DSN-2 defence communications satellite, the IGS Radar 5 reconnaissance satellite and the QZS-2 craft. It will be the second flight of the more-powerful 204 variant in 2017 and the 35th launch of the H-IIA since its introduction in 2001.

H-IIA 204 consists of a two-stage stack measuring four meters in diameter plus four SRB-A boosters clustered around the first stage. The vehicle stands 53 meters tall, weighs 443 metric tons at liftoff and lifts up to 15 metric tons into Low Earth Orbit and six tons into Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

>> H-IIA Launch Vehicle Overview

H-IIA emerged from its assembly building at the midnight hour for a 30-minute trip to cover 500 meters to Launch Pad 1 at the sea-side launch complex. Once at the pad, the rocket's Mobile Launch Platform will be hooked up to propellant, power and data interfaces and undergo power-up operations for an initial series of checkouts. H-IIA will press into propellant loading around seven hours and 45 minutes before the opening of the day's launch window, pumping 120 metric tons of -183°C Liquid Oxygen and -253°C Liquid Hydrogen into the two cryogenic rocket stages.

After the three-hour fueling sequence, H-IIA will be kept topped up at flight level while engineering teams work through a comprehensive list of checkouts to clear the vehicle for a 60-minute terminal countdown operation that will transition to a fully computer-controlled mode at X-4.5 minutes to put the vehicle through tank pressurization, transfer to internal power and the control handoff from the ground to the rocket's computers.


Photo: JAXA (File)

H-IIA will start breathing fire at X-5.2 seconds when the LE-7A main engine will soar to life, spinning up its turbopumps and building up thrust under close supervision of flight computers to ensure the engine reaches operational conditions before the boosters are ignited – committing the vehicle to flight.

At the moment of booster ignition, H-IIA will shoot off the ground with a total thrust of over 1,030 metric ton force – the boosters delivering almost 90% of the rocket's thrust at blastoff. With an initial thrust to weight ratio higher than two, H-IIA will climb vertically for only a handful seconds before beginning to pitch and roll in order to get aligned with its precisely planned ascent path taking the launch vehicle to the south-east for a trip across the Pacific Ocean, heading to a Low Earth Parking orbit.

The four boosters will fire for 108 seconds, in the process burning 66 metric tons of solid propellants and helping H-IIA accelerate to 2.2 Kilometers per second. Burnout will be sensed by the declining pressure in the combustion cambers and separation will be initiated two minutes and six seconds into the flight for the first two boosters and three seconds later for the other two, using the booster thrust struts to ensure a clean separation of the 15.1-meter long SRBs.

Powered flight continues on the LE-7A engine of the first stage, generating a thrust of 109 metric ton-force when flying through the rarefied upper atmosphere, consuming 260 Kilograms of cryogenics each second of powered flight. Three minutes and 45 seconds into the flight, H-IIA will be over 170 Kilometers in altitude and split open its five-meter payload fairing as aerodynamic forces can no longer harm the delicate spacecraft structure.

>> Flight Profile


Image: JAXA/Spaceflight101

The first stage will finish its job six minutes and 38 seconds into the flight, having boosted the vehicle's speed to 5.9 Kilometers per second. Eight seconds after cutoff, the 37-meter long first stage will drop away to clear the way for ignition of the second stage's LE-5B engine at X+6:52, soaring to a vacuum thrust of 13,970 Kilogram-force to lift the stack into a lightly elliptical Parking Orbit via a burn of four minutes and 31 seconds.

After completion of the first propulsive phase of the mission, H-IIA will enter a coast phase of approximately 12 minutes to continue on its south-easterly path in order to fire the engine again when passing the equator so that the high-point of the orbit can be placed above the equator as well – standard practice in GTO launches. The second burn is targeting ignition 23 minutes and 39 seconds after launch when H-IIA will be 370 Kilometers in altitude.

The second burn of the 11-meter long second stage has a planned duration of four minutes and 10 seconds to raise the vehicle's velocity by 2.5 Kilometers per second and significantly lift the high point of the orbit. H-IIA F35 is aiming for an orbit of 380 by 35,976 Kilometers at an inclination of 20 degrees with spacecraft separation expected 28 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff.

The spring-loaded separation of the satellite will mark the start of its first steps in orbit – going through a stabilization maneuver and initiating communications with the ground for initial health checks that will clear the way for a multi-burn climb into Geostationary Orbit.

[свернуть]

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

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Snapshot of launch site


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H-IIA F35 on the way to launch pad


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H-IIA F35 has arrived at launch pad

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http://spaceflight101.com/h-iia-qzs-3/flight-profile/

Friday, August 11, 2017

H-IIA F35 Flight Profile (QZS-3)

Launch Vehicle: H-IIA 204
Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center
Launch Date: August 12, 2017
Launch Window: 04:40-13:17 UTC
Payload: Quasi-Zenith Satellite 3 (4,700kg)
Ascent Duration: 28 Min & 40 Sec

Target Orbit:
Type: Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Perigee: 380 Kilometers
Apogee: 35,976 Kilometers
Inclination: 20 Degrees
 
Operational Orbit:
Type: Geostationary Orbit
Altitude: 35,786 km

Image: JAXA

Ascent Timeline

Спойлер

[TH]Time[/TH] [TH]Event[/TH] [TH]Altitude (km)[/TH] [TH]Velocity (km/s)[/TH]

T-00.05	LE-7A Ignition	0	0.4
T-00:00	SRB-A Ignition & LIFTOFF	0	0.4
T+01:48	SRB-A Burnout	62	2.2
T+02:06	SRB 1 & 2 Separation	82	2.2
T+02:09	SRB 1 & 2 Separation	85	2.3
T+03:45	Payload Fairing Separation	173	3.0
T+06:38	MECO - LE-7A Shutdown	264	5.9
T+06:46	Stage Separation	268	5.9
T+06:52	LE-5B Ignition	271	5.9
T+11:23	Second Stage - 1st Shutdown	332	7.7
T+23:39	LE-5B Re-Ignition	370	7.6
T+27:49	Second Stage - 2nd Shutdown	392	10.1
T+28:40	QZS-3 Separation	420	10.1

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Ground Track Map

Спойлер

Image: JAXA/Spaceflight101

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真之介0113‏ @shinnosuke0113 11 мин. назад

インスタ映え Facebook映え Twitter映え #H2AF35 #QZS3

Спойлер

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http://spaceflight101.com/h-iia-countdown-timeline/

H-IIA Countdown Timeline

Спойлер

[TH]Time[/TH] [TH]Event[/TH]

X-13:30:00	H-IIA Rollout to Launch Pad
X-13:00:00	Arrival at Launch Pad
X-13:00:00	Connection of Propellant Interfaces
X-13:00:00	Connection of Power/Data Interfaces
X-13:00:00	Launch Vehicle & Pad Closeouts
X-10:40:00	Poll for Propellant Loading
X-10:30:00	400-meter Safety Zone
X-10:30:00	Propellant Loading Set-up
X-08:00:00	Launch Pad Evacuation
X-07:45:00	3,000-meter Safety Zone
X-07:30:00	Propellant Loading Operations:
X-07:30:00	GSE Pressurization & Chilldown
X-07:30:00	Transfer Lines Chilldown
X-07:30:00	Propellant Tank Chilldown
X-07:30:00	Loading of LOX & LH2
X-07:30:00	Propellant Topping & Replenish
X-06:00:00	Attitude Control System Testing
X-05:00:00	Communication Checks
X-04:30:00	Propellant Loading enters Replenish
X-04:00:00	Launch Vehicle: Final Checks
X-01:40:00	Flight Control System Testing
X-01:10:00	GO/No GO for Terminal Count
X-01:00:00	Terminal Countdown Sequence
X-00:10:00	Poll for Automated Countdown
X-00:08:00	Payload to Internal Power
X-00:04:30	Automated Countdown Sequence
X-00:04:30	Propellant Loading Termination
X-00:04:20	Propellant Tank Pressurization
X-00:03:00	Transfer to Internal Power
X-00:02:00	Range & Weather Verification
X-00:01:13	Water Deluge System Activation
X-00:01:00	Flight Termination System Arming
X-00:00:30	Pyrotechnics enabled
X-00:00:18	Guidance System to Flight Mode
X-00:00:10	Hydrogen Burnoff System Activation
X-00:00:05.2	LE-7A Ignition Sequence Start
X-00:00:00	Booster Ignition & LIFTOFF

[свернуть]

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

August 12, 2017 04:05 JST
 Second Go/No Go Decision -'Go'
 
Final checks have been made for operational conditions of the launch vehicle, satellites, launch facilities, and tracking and control systems, as well as weather conditions. We now have gotten a go-ahead for loading the propellant, such as liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, into the launch vehicle. Propellant loading preparations are going to start.

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

August 12, 2017 04:30 JST
Terminal countdown operation has started
 
Terminal countdown operation has started. Access will now be restricted within a radius of 400 meters from the launch pad.


< Click image to enlarge >
Terminal countdown operation has started

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

August 12, 2017 06:23 JST
Access restrictions to start within a radius of 3,000 meters from launch pad.

Access will now be restricted within a radius of 3,000 meters from the launch pad.

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NVS-трансляции на ТыТрубе, похоже, не будет - удалённое необслуживаемое оборудование вышло из строя. Трансляция только на канале Nico Nico (для зарегистрированных пользователей)

ネコビデオ ビジュアル ソリューションズ‏ @nvslive 7 мин. назад

【生中継】本日12日13:40に打上げられるH-IIAロケット35号機の現在の様子を現地種子島より定点中継に挑戦中！ http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv304555396 ... ※無人カメラにつき配信トラブルの際は復旧できません

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

August 12, 2017 07:07 JST
Attitude control system flight slew test completed

By running programs of the guidance and control system mounted on H-IIA F35, it has been confirmed that all devices for flight attitude control are working as expected.

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 5 мин. назад

ARTICLE: Japanese H-IIA set for QZS-3 launch - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/japanese-h-iia-qzs-3-launch/ ... - by William Graham

Japanese H-IIA set for QZS-3 launch

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http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/mission/countdown/h2a_f35.html

August 12, 2017 08:19 JST
First stage and second stage liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks fully loaded

It has been confirmed that the first- and second-stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks have been fully loaded.

< Click image to enlarge >

H-IIA F35 - Both liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks fully loaded

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Портится погода  :?:

真之介0113‏ @shinnosuke0113 15 мин. назад

ご視察所 #H2AF35 #QZS3 規制は今のところないみたい

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Пока туман

真之介0113‏ @shinnosuke0113 6 мин. назад

採石場より、H-2Aロケット35号機 #H2AF35 #QZS3

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СК в 8:54 JST

柴田孔明‏ @koumeiShibata 4 мин. назад

8時54分頃の射点。コンデジで撮影。

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СК со смотровой площадки. Очень много песка после супертайфуна "Нору"

柴田孔明‏ @koumeiShibata 4 мин. назад

なお9時の段階でもう暑いです。熱中症対策は厳重に。また日焼け止め、紫外線対策も。エアコンのない車中にいるのも危険です。写真は竹崎の報道スタンドから射点方向。カウントダウンクロックもカバーが外されました。