Engineering:Kounotori 6

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Short description: Sixth flight of the H-II Transfer Vehicle
Kounotori 6
HTV-6 grappled by the International Space Station's robotic arm (2).jpg
The SSRMS (Canadarm2) grapples Kounotori 6
spacecraft, prior to berthing on 13 December 2016.
Mission typeISS resupply
OperatorJAXA
COSPAR ID2016-076A
SATCAT no.41881
Mission duration58 days
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftKounotori 6
Spacecraft typeHTV
ManufacturerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Launch mass16400 kg
Dry mass10500 kg
Payload mass5900 kg
Dimensions9.8 metre of long,
4.4 metre of diameter
Start of mission
Launch date9 December 2016, 13:26:47 UTC
RocketH-IIB No. 6
Launch siteTanegashima, Yoshinobu 2
ContractorMitsubishi Heavy Industries
End of mission
Disposaldeorbited
Decay date5 February 2017, 15:06 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Berthing at ISS
Berthing portHarmony
RMS capture13 December 2016, 10:37 UTC
Berthing date13 December 2016, 13:57 UTC
Unberthing date27 January 2017, 10:59 UTC
RMS release27 January 2017, 15:45 UTC
Cargo
Mass5900 kg
Pressurised4000 kg
Unpressurised1900 kg
 

Kounotori 6 (こうのとり6号機), also known as HTV-6, is the sixth flight of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, an uncrewed cargo spacecraft launched to resupply the International Space Station. It was launched at 13:26:47 UTC on 9 December 2016 aboard H-IIB launch vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center.

Spacecraft

Major changes from previous Kounotori include:[1][2]

  • Built-in payloads to demonstrate new technologies: SFINKS and KITE, described below.
  • Reduction of primary batteries to 6 from the previous 7.
  • Reduction of solar cell panels to 48 from previous 49.
  • Omission of some of navigation/position lights which were Earth-side when approaching to ISS.
  • Strengthened EP (Exposed Pallet) maximum payload to 1900 kg from the previous 1600 kg to carry Lithium-ion batteries.

SFINKS (Solar Cell Film Array Sheet for Next Generation on Kounotori Six) will test thin film solar cells in space.[3]

Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment

KITE (Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment) was an experimental electrodynamic tether (EDT).[4][5] The tether was equipped with a 20 kg end-mass, and would have been 700 m long when deployed.[4][6][7] A maximum current of 10 mA was planned to run through the tether.[4] Kounotori's ISS rendezvous sensor would have been utilized to measure how the end-mass moves during the test.[4] The EDT experiment was scheduled following Kounotori 6's departure from the ISS, with a planned duration of one week.[4] After the experiment, the tether would have been separated before the spacecraft proceeds with the de-orbit maneuvers. The main objective of this experiment were the orbital demonstration of both extending an uncoated bare-tether, and driving electric currents through the EDT.[5] These two technologies will contribute to gaining capabilities to remove space debris.[5][8][9][10]

Cargo

Kounotori 6 carries about 5900 kg of cargo (including the support structure weight), consisting of 3900 kg in PLC (Pressurized Logistics Carrier) and 1900 kg in ULC (Unpressurized Logistics Carrier).[11]

Cargo in the pressurized compartment includes 30 bags filled with potable water (600 liters),[12][13] food, crew commodities, CDRA Bed (Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly), TPF (Two-Phase Flow) experiment unit, PS-TEPC (Position-Sensitive Tissue Equivalent Proportional Chamber) radiation measurement instrument, ExHAM (Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism), HDTV-EF2 high-definition and 4K camera, new J-SSOD (JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer), and CubeSats (AOBA-Velox III, TuPOD which comprises two TubeSats (Tancredo-1 and OSNSAT), EGG, ITF-2, STARS-C, FREEDOM, WASEDA-SAT3).[14][15][11] Cargo by NanoRacks includes TechEdSat-5,[16] CubeRider,[17] RTcMISS,[18] NREP-P DM7,[19][20] four Lemur-2.[21] Additionally, the Blue SPHERES satellite of the MIT Space Systems Laboratory is being returned to the ISS for continued autonomous systems research.[22]

Cargo in the unpressurized compartment consists of six lithium-ion batteries and their associated adapter plates to replace existing nickel-hydrogen batteries of the International Space Station. Since each of the new lithium-ion battery has a capability equivalent to two of the current nickel-hydrogen batteries, the six new batteries will replace twelve old batteries, out of the 48 existing batteries of the ISS.[12]

On departure from the ISS, Kounotori 6 carries 9 out of the 12 replaced old batteries which will be disposed of by destructive reentry into Earth's atmosphere. The 3 remaining old batteries stay on the ISS.[13]

Operation

Launch

On 26 July 2016, the launch was scheduled for 30 September 2016,[23] but on 10 August 2016, postponement was announced due to the leak from piping.[24]

The H-IIB launch vehicle carrying Kounotori 6 lifted off at 13:26:47 UTC on 9 December 2016, and 15 minutes 11 seconds later, Kounotori 6 was released into initial 200 × 300 km orbit.[25][26]

SFINKS experiment payload began the data collection at 14:16, on 9 December 2016, but it stopped unexpectedly after 509 seconds.[27]

After a series of orbital manoeuvres, Kounotori 6 arrived to the proximity of ISS and captured by SSRMS (Canadarm2) at 10:39 (10:37 according to NASA), on 13 December 2016.[28][29] Kounotori was bolted to the CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) of the Harmony nadir port by 13:48 UTC.[30]

Operation while berthed to ISS

Berthing operation completed at 18:24, on 13 December 2016 UTC,[31] and the hatch opened at 19:44 UTC.[32]

Since 07:44, 14 December 2016, Exposed Pallet (EP) was extracted from Unpressurised Logistics Carrier (ULC) of Kounotori 6 by SSRMS and transferred to Payload and ORU Accommodation (POA).[33][34] After a combination of two Extra-Vehicular Activities and robotic operations, the lithium-ion battery units and adapter plates were installed. The Exposed Pallet carrying old Nickel-hydrogen battery units was returned to Kounotori 6's Unpresurised Logistics Carrier on 23 January 2017.[35]

Departure from the ISS and re-entry to the Earth atmosphere

SSRMS grappled and detached Kounotori 6 from the CBM of Harmony nadir port at 10:59, 27 January 2017,[36] and Kounotori 6 was released at 15:45, on 27 January 2017.[37]

Following the undocking after moving to a safe distance from ISS, the Kounotori 6 was to demonstrate the "Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment" (KITE) using electrodynamic tether to demonstrate space debris removal technology.[38] This experiment was planned for seven days before reentry to the Earth's atmosphere.[36] On 31 January 2017, media reported some problems in extending the tether, bringing to doubt the experiment's success.[39]

A series of deorbit manoeuvres were performed at 08:42, 10:12, and 14:42 UTC, on 5 February 2017.[40][41][42] Kounotori 6 reentered to Earth atmosphere over southern Pacific Ocean around 15:06 UTC, on 5 February 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. 1 July 2016. http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/060/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2016/07/08/1374186_2.pdf. 
  2. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. 1 July 2016. http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/060/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2016/07/08/1374186_3.pdf. 
  3. ↑ "研究成果（より詳細な研究内容）" (in Japanese). JAXA Research and Development Directorate. http://www.ard.jaxa.jp/research_fy27/dengen/den-sub4_2.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "HTV搭載導電性テザー実証実験の検討状況について" (in Japanese). JAXA. 2013-09-04. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/09/20130904_htv_j.pdf. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "JAXA、宇宙ゴミ除去技術の確立に向け「こうのとり」利用" (in Japanese). Response staff. 2013-09-09. http://response.jp/article/2013/09/09/205929.html. 
  6. ↑ "Japan tests innovative magnetic tether for slowing space junk". BBC News. 9 December 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38265676. 
  7. ↑ "HTV-KITE Experiment – HTV-6 | Spaceflight101". http://spaceflight101.com/htv-6/htv-kite-experiment/. 
  8. ↑ "Japan launching 'space junk' collector (Update)". https://phys.org/news/2016-12-japan-space-junk-collector.html. 
  9. ↑ "Japan launches 'space junk' collector". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Japan-launches-space-junk-collector/articleshow/55904909.cms. 
  10. ↑ "Japanese spacecraft will test space junk collector on its way to the ISS – ExtremeTech". ExtremeTech. 14 December 2016. https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/241016-japanese-spacecraft-will-test-space-junk-collector-way-iss. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. 24 November 2016. http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/countdown/htv6/files/htv6_press_kit.pdf. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. June 3, 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/topics/2016/06/htv6_160602.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 国際宇宙ステーション用バッテリ・飲料水充填装置説明会 (in Japanese). NVS. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  14. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. November 7, 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/kiboexp/news/161107_cubesats_unveiled.html. 
  15. ↑ "TuPOD almost ready for launch". Group of Aerodynamics for the Use of Space Systems. July 27, 2016. http://www.gaussteam.com/tupod-almost-ready-for-launch/. 
  16. ↑ "NanoRacks". 9 December 2016. https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/807200792738496512. 
  17. ↑ "NanoRacks". 9 December 2016. https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/807205727572029440. 
  18. ↑ "NanoRacks". 9 December 2016. https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/807208500640284672. 
  19. ↑ "NanoRacks". 9 December 2016. https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/807212048987914240. 
  20. ↑ "NanoRacks-DM (NanoRacks-DM) – 11.23.16". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2173.html.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  21. ↑ "NanoRacks". 10 December 2016. https://twitter.com/NanoRacks/status/807280763481849856. 
  22. ↑ "SPHERES Blue Satellite Repair Complete". NASA Ames Research Center. October 6, 2016. https://www.nasa.gov/content/spheres-blue-satellite-repair-complete.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  23. ↑ "Launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI6" (HTV6) aboard the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 6". JAXA. 26 July 2016. http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2016/07/20160726_h2bf6.html. 
  24. ↑ "Launch Postponement of H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 6 with H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI6" (HTV6) Onboard". JAXA. 10 August 2016. http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2016/08/20160810_h2bf6.html. 
  25. ↑ "Launch success of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 6 (H-IIB F6) with the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI6" on board". 10 December 2016. http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2016/12/20161210_h2bf6.html. 
  26. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". JAXA. October 2016. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2016/10/files/20161007_h2bf6.pdf. 
  27. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Japanese). JAXA. 2016. http://www.ard.jaxa.jp/pickup/pickup-2016.html. 
  28. ↑ "SSRMS captures KOUNOTORI6". JAXA. 13 December 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_capture.html. 
  29. ↑ "ISS Daily Summary Report – 12/13/2016". NASA. 13 December 2016. https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2016/12/13/iss-daily-summary-report-12132016/.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  30. ↑ "KOUNOTORI6 fastened to Harmony with CBM bolts". JAXA. 14 December 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_latch.html. 
  31. ↑ "ISS crew concludes Kounotori 6 berthing operations". JAXA. 14 December 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_activation.html. 
  32. ↑ "Kounotori 6 hatch opening and crew ingress". 14 December 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_1214.html. 
  33. ↑ "Transfer of the Exposed Pallet (EP) begins". JAXA. 14 December 2016. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_ep_1214.html. 
  34. ↑ "ISS Daily Summary Report – 12/14/2016". NASA. 14 December 2016. https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2016/12/14/iss-daily-summary-report-12142016/.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  35. ↑ "ISS Daily Summary Report – 1/23/2017". ISS On-Orbit Status Report. NASA. 23 January 2017. https://blogs.nasa.gov/stationreport/2017/01/23/.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "KOUNOTORI6 was unberthed from the nadir port of Harmony (Node 2) by the SSRMS". JAXA. 27 January 2017. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_unberthed.html. 
  37. ↑ "KOUNOTORI6 Leaves the ISS". JAXA. 28 January 2017. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_leaves.html. 
  38. ↑ "On-orbit demonstration of electrodynamic tether on the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)（Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiments (KITE))". JAXA. http://www.ard.jaxa.jp/eng/research/kite/kite.html. 
  39. ↑ "Japanese tether experiment hits snag". spaceflightinsider. 31 January 2017. http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/japanese-tether-experiment-hits-snag/. 
  40. ↑ "KOUNOTORI6 performed its first de-orbit maneuvers for reentry". JAXA. 5 February 2017. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_dom1.html. 
  41. ↑ "KOUNOTORI6 performed its second de-orbit maneuver for reentry". JAXA. 5 February 2017. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_dom2.html. 
  42. ↑ "KOUNOTORI6 performed its third de-orbit maneuver for reentry". JAXA. 5 February 2017. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv6_dom3.html. 

External links

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