Japanese free-flying satellites

The results of a design study of a free flying platform that would act in concert with a space station and carry multiple experiments are reported. Concepts were developed for astronomy and astrophysics applications and for experiments featuring large electrical consumption and concommitant high levels of electromagnetic noise. The space station would furnish high data rate processing, supplies of consumables such as film, and control of the experiment apparatus. A reference mission featuring an optical system, an instrument chamber, a cryogenic system, an attitude control system, control and data management, telecommunication equipment, and a power supply is detailed. The orbit would remain above 500 km to allow large time spans for IR observations. Another space flyer unit could support a space plasma experiment, an advanced propulsion system, space radar, microwave energy transmission technology experiments, a deployable solar array, and space laser experiments. The flyer could operate in unison with the Spacelab or the space station, and could be tested in advance with deployment from the Orbiter.