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EGS

The success of the US and French geodetic satellites launched in the mid-1970's influenced Japan's national space agency, NASDA, to sponsor a similar, yet complementary, geodetic satellite. Under the auspices of the Hydrography Department of the Maritime Safety Agency and the Geographical Survey Institute of the Ministry of Construction, the objectives of the Experimental Geodetic Satellite (EGS, also known as Ajisa) are to:

• " correct the geodetic triangulation nets in the country,
• determine the location of isolated islands (improve the marine geodetic network) and
• establish Japan's geodetic datum" (Reference 431).

EGS was launched 12 August 1986 on the inaugural mission of the H-l launch vehicle. The 685 kg satellite is spherical with a diameter of 2.15 m, but, unlike other geodetic satellites of its class, EGS is covered with both laser reflector assemblies (120 with 1436 corner cubes) and solar reflecting mirrors (318). The mean altitude of EGS is slightly less than 1,500 km with an orbital inclination of 50.0 degrees (Reference 432).

432. NASDA. National Space Development Agency of Japan, 1994, p. 22.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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