The National Space Development Agency of Japan is continuing observation of
the Laser Ranging Equipment (LRE) which is part of the Vehicle Evaluation
Payload(VEP- 2) carried by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.1 (H-IIA/F1), launched at
4:00 p.m. on August 29, 2001 (Japan Standard Time), from Tanegashima Space
Center.
LRE has not been observed so far by laser. However, NASDA would like to
announce that it has been successfully observed by a German RADAR
(Forschungsgesellschaft fur Angewandte Naturwissenschaften e.V.: FGAN) and
domestic optical observation (Bisei Spaceguard Center: Besei-cho, Okayama
Prefecture).
LRE orbital data observed by FGAN and the Bisei Spaceguard Center:
Apogee height: 36,205.3 [Km]
Perigee height: 253.0 [Km]
Orbit inclination: 28.5 [degree]
(Accuracy is unsatisfactory due to short-time observation)
NASDA will conduct high-precision data acquisition and evaluation by
continuing LRE observation.
For inquiries:
Public Relations Office
NASDA HQs
Tel: +81-3-3438-6107, 6108 and 6109
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://yyy.tksc.nasda.go.jp/Home/Press/e/200109/lre_010906_01_e.html]
LRE is a point between the yellow lines. Taken at 4:44 am (Japan Standard
Time) on September 4, 2001.
The Bisei Spaceguard Center is a facility owned by the Japan Space Forum.
This image was observed by the Japan Spaceguard Association at the Center
according to a request by NASDA.
