* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: SPRINT-A satellite

Blobrana · L

Launch Cancellation of Epsilon-1 with SPRINT-A Onboard

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) cancelled today's launch of the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-1) with the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) onboard from the Uchinoura Space Center, because an automatic stop alarm was issued as an attitude abnormality was detected approximately 19 seconds prior to the liftoff time during the automatic countdown sequence. The launch had been originally scheduled for 1:45:00 p.m. today (Japan Standard Time).
JAXA is currently investigating the cause
Source

Blobrana · L

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided to postpone the launch of the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-1) with the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) onboard to August 27, 2013, from the Uchinoura Space Centre as JAXA has taken extra time to rectify the incompatibility* found in the ground support equipment during the communication function test between the Epsilon-1 and the equipment in the course of launch campaign at the launch site. The launch was originally scheduled for August 22, 2013 from the centre. JAXA made sure that the same incompatibility would not recur through a reconfirmation, and no problem was found.

* JAXA found an incorrect line routing in the signal relay equipment for checking the launch vehicle functions, and it has been rectified.

Aside from the above incompatibility, the launch time window was also changed to 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. from the previously set window of 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. as a result of the latest flight trajectory analysis by considering relative positions between the SPRINT-A and the sun after its separation from the Epsilon-1.

Scheduled launch day: August 27 (Tue.) 2013
Scheduled launch time window: 1:45 thru 2:30 p.m.
Launch window: between Aug. 28 (Wed.) thru Sept. 30 (Mon.), 2013
Launch site: Uchinoura Space Centre

Blobrana · L

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is scheduled launch the Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere (SPRINT-A) aboard the first Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-1) from the Uchinoura Space Centre, between 1:30 p.m. through 2:30 p.m., August 22 (Thursday.), 2013 (Japan Standard Time).
The launch window extends from Aug. 23 (Fri) through Sept. 30 (Mon.), 2013.

Source JAXA

Blobrana · L

Epsilon Launch Vehicle Support Message Campaign

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is welcoming your support messages to our new launch vehicle "Epsilon." The messages will be loaded onto the launch vehicle to travel to space.
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Blobrana · L

SPRINT-A is the world's first space telescope for remote observation of the planets such as Venus, Mars, and Jupiter from the orbit around the earth.
SPRINT-A will also perform an observation of extreme ultraviolet light from the satellite Io of the Jupiter, and examines how to transfer energy in the plasma environment of the Jupiter from an observation of a sulphur ion flowing out from Io.
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