H-IIA F3 Status Report: Fairing Encapsulatio

We have only three more weeks to launch the Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS)
and Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System (USERS) by H-IIA Launch
Vehicle No.3 (H-IIA F3). Launch operations both for payloads and launch
vehicle are going well.

This week, the payloads are being enclosed by the payload fairing. The
fairing for H-IIA F3 is 16 meters in height. It is a two-staged clamshell
type fairing for two payloads, thus it will be separated into two parts both
vertically and horizontally.

A fairing is a protective cover for payloads from heats and other
atmospheric environmental conditions at the time of liftoff and during the
flight. The upper fairing that covers USERS will be separated and jettisoned
at the altitude of 168km. The lower fairing for DRTS will be at 454km.