Report On The Orbital Break-ups Caused By JAXA's Vehicles In 2006
- Paper number
IAC-07-A6.3.02
- Author
Dr. Akira Kato, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan
- Year
2007
- Abstract
In 2006, three JAXA's orbital vehicles generated debris unintentionally. First case was the 2nd stage of H-2A 8th flight launched on 24th January 2006 to inject ALOS into LEO which generated debris in August 2006. By the US Space Surveillance Network, it was observed that 21 objects (including un-catalogued objects) were generated and decayed from altitude 550 km within five months. The passivation for residual fluids had been completed. The command destruct system was kept below cook-off temperature in design to prevent explosion. There were no other sources of break-up energy. As the result of FTA, other survey and analysis, although there was not enough information to verify that, the most probable cause was identified that a tiny orbital object might impact on the 2nd stage and blow up insulator (PIF: Polyisocyanurate Foam) which is coated along the propellant tank. Second case was M-5 7th flight which launched SOLAR-B and two sub-payloads in September 2006. In spite the long discussion including launcher team and payload team any clear conclusions have not been cleared. Third case was H-2A 10th flight. It was observed that 17 objects are generated and decayed soon. The causes for last two cases are still unknown but this report provides the facts as much as we could clear during survey.
- Abstract document