Current status of the ADEOS-II (or “Midori II”)

The current status of the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II
(or “Midori II”), which was launched at 01:31 UT 14 December 2002 from
the Tanegashima Space Flight Center of the National Space Development
Agency of Japan (NASDA), is described below.

The image data of the solar array paddle (PDL) extension acquired
by the Visual Monitoring System (VMS) was successfully acquired
in the 5th revolution.

Antenna of the SeaWinds of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/NASA
was uncaged successfully in the 7th revolution.

As the first step of the antenna deployment of the Inter Orbital
Communication Subsystem (IOCS), three of four ordnances were ignited
in the 8th revolution.

At present, the Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) of ADEOS-II
is operating with 1 N (Newton) thrusters only. And frequency of role
axis thrusters (direction of ADEOS-II flight) burns has exceeded
the planned*1. NASDA continues evaluation of the telemetry date of
AOCS.

After data evaluations, the antenna deployment of IOCS (remaining
ordnance ignition) scheduled initially in the 14th rev. and the
ADEOS-II mode change*2 to next phase scheduled initially in the 15th
rev. will be carried out.

NASDA continues monitoring the telemetry data for the troubles that
some data of PDL tension monitoring system were found out of
specification and an error flag was found in the telemetry data of
the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR).

*1: The frequency of thrust burns increases 1.5 times to 3 times of
the planned.

*2: The mode change of ADEOS-II AOCS system from thruster mode to
Reaction Wheel mode.

Launching Information on web site : Count Down
http://h2a.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html