Abstract
The Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS, “KIRARI”) was developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The main contractor is NEC Corporation. OICETS was launched into low earth orbit (LEO; altitude of 610km) (Ref.1), leading to the success of two world”s first demonstrations in the laser optical inter-orbit communications. The first was two-way communications between OICETS and Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite (ARTEMIS) of the European Space Agency (SEA) in geostationary orbit (GEO) in Dec.2005. The other was communications between OICETS (in LEO) and an optical ground station, in March 2006. The secondary mission of OICETS is the development of a 500 kg class standard satellite bus for J-1 Rocket. This paper presents the design features of OICETS to achieve optical inter-orbit communication and standard satellite bus.
