The ETS-VII, or Engineering Test Satellite No. 7, was a satellite developed and launched by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). It is also known as KIKU-7.[1] It was launched aboard an H-II rocket from Tanegashima Space Center, on 28 November 1997.[1] The ETS-VII was equipped with a 2-meter-long (6.6 ft) robotic arm, which was used to carry out several experiments related to rendezvous docking and space robotics.[1] It was the world's first satellite to be equipped with a robotic arm,[2] and also Japan's first uncrewed spacecraft to conduct autonomous rendezvous and docking operations successfully, decades after the docking of the Soviet Kosmos 186 and Kosmos 188 spacecraft in 1967.[3] Although it was originally intended to be used for 1.5 years, the satellite was functional for a period of almost five years.[4] ETS-VII eventually decayed from orbit on 13 November 2015.[5]
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
jaxawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Mitsushige Oda (2000). "Summary of NASDA's ETS-VII robot satellite mission". Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics. 12 (4). Fuji Technology Press: 417–424. doi:10.20965/jrm.2000.p0417.
- ^ Kawano, Isao; Mokuno, Masaaki; Suzuki, Takashi; Koyama, Hiroshi; Kunugi, Makoto (2002). "Approach Trajectory Design for Autonomous Rendezvous of ETS-VII". Journal of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences. 49 (575): 432–437. Bibcode:2002JSASS..49..432K. doi:10.2322/jjsass.49.432.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
engineeringwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ETS 7". N2YO.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.