Space Flyer Unit

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Space Flyer Unit

| image = STS072-734-011.jpg

| image_caption = Space Flyer Unit photographed from Endeavour during STS-72 mission

| mission_type = Technology

| operator = NASDA
ISAS
NEDO
USEF

| website = {{url|http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/sfu.shtml}}

| COSPAR_ID = 1995-011A

| SATCAT = 23521

| mission_duration = 10 months

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer = Mitsubishi Electric

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass = {{convert|3846|kg|lb}}

| landing_mass = {{convert|3492|kg|lb}}

| dimensions =

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|18 March 1995, 08:01|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = H-II 3F

| launch_site = Tanegashima Yoshinobu 1

| launch_contractor =

| recovery_by = {{OV|105}}
STS-72

| recovery_date = {{end-date|13 January 1996}}

| landing_date = 20 January 1996, 07:41:41 UTC

| landing_site = Kennedy SLF Runway 15

| orbit_epoch = 17 April 1995{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=29 October 2013}}

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Low Earth

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|470|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|492|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 28.4 degrees

| orbit_period = 94.22 minutes

| apsis = gee

}}

File:STS072-720-042.jpg

The {{nihongo|Space Flyer Unit|宇宙実験・観測フリーフライヤ|Uchū Jikken-Kansoku Free Flyer}} was a spacecraft which was launched by Japan on March 18, 1995.[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/SFU.html - Main Reference]-Main Reference

Technical data

File:Space Flyer Unit.jpg, Tokyo.]]

The Space Flyer Unit was launched from Tanegashima Space Center in an H-II vehicle. It carried testing materials and research data that held value to NASA. The crew of STS-72 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour retrieved the satellite on January 20, 1996, 10 months after it was launched. The idea behind the implementation of the SFU was a joint effort by multiple major corporations and government agencies. The ones that were involved with the launch were the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the National Space Development Agency, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/project.shtml Chronology Data] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063737/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/project.shtml |date=2006-09-28 }}-Chronology Data

After the shuttle returned the SFU from space it was transported to Japan and refurbished for display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.

{{cite web

| url = http://www.jspacesystems.or.jp/en/project/past/sfu/

| title = SFU : Space Flyer Unit

| author=

| access-date = 2016-08-01

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160801141025/http://www.jspacesystems.or.jp/en/project/past/sfu/

| archive-date = 2016-08-01

}}

Purpose

The original purposes behind the SFU was to[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/mission.shtml Purposes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063743/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/mission.shtml |date=2006-09-28 }}-Purposes

Allow researchers better access to space research conditions.
Give researchers a group experimental facility.
Be able to reuse the SFU to save money
Retrieve data

Technology

A variety of systems that were operational within the SFU had never been implemented before. Equipment on board supported an infrared telescope, two-dimensional solar array, high voltage solar array, space plasma diagnosis, electric propulsion, material experimentation, gas dynamics, gradient heating chemicals, isothermal heating furnace and more.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/sfu.shtml Experiment Data 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063747/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/sfu.shtml |date=2006-09-28 }}-Experiment Data 1 The core system that was built into the SFU contained an octagonal aluminum truss. Inside of that were eight boxes of trapezoidal shape. The SFU was connected directly to the Kagoshima Space Center.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/orbit.shtml Experiment Data 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928063718/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/orbit.shtml |date=2006-09-28 }}-Experiment Data 2

Experimentation data

A number of various types of experiments that performed on board the SFU during its launch life cycle. Those experiments, and light data related to them are listed below.

Infrared Telescope in Space (IRTS) - The IRTS experiment was performed by the infrared telescope that was aboard the SFU. The intent was to produce important information into the history of the universe and structure of the milky way galaxy. The telescope had a super fluid helium cooling fan built into it to prevent it from overheating.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/irts.shtml Irts Data] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051127080855/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/irts.shtml |date=2005-11-27 }}-IRTS Data
2D Array - The 2d array system was launched as a small module inside of the SFU. This experiment was deployed to show that large structures could (in fact) be built in space.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070731062113/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/2dsa.shtml 2d array data]-2d Array Data
HVSA - The Solar Array was a power source put into this system to head up multiple experiments. It is used to test the creation of "electricity" in the denseness of space from the use of technology only.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/hvsa.shtml hvsa data] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125174733/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/hvsa.shtml |date=2005-11-25 }}-hvsa data
SPDP - This was used on the SFU to test things going really fast in space. SPDP stands for (Space Plasma Diagnostic Package) and it was deployed with different sensors to check the effects of speed on the denseness of gravity.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/spdp.shtml Sdpd data] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125174757/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/spdp.shtml |date=2005-11-25 }}-Sdpd data
EPEX - This hardware that was built into the SFU was meant to do experiments related to fuel creation and management in space.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/epex.shtml epex data] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125174708/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/epex.shtml |date=2005-11-25 }}-epex data
MEX - This software was meant to review and research the effects of various types of liquid within a space environment.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/mex.shtml mex] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125173432/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/mex.shtml |date=2005-11-25 }}-mex data
BIO - This test involved observing Japanese fire belly newt eggs hatch in deep space.[http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/bio.shtml bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125173406/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/sfu/bio.shtml |date=2005-11-25 }}-Bio

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20120614075057/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/sfu.shtml ISAS Data]
[http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/SFU.html Data Page]

Category:Satellites of Japan

Category:Spacecraft launched in 1995

Category:Infrared telescopes

Category:Space hardware returned to Earth intact