COMETS

Kakehashi, meaning 'Bridge', was called Communications and Broadcasting Experimental Test Satellite (COMETS) before launch. It contained Ka-band communications and inter-satellite data relay payloads.

Premature shutdown 44 seconds into the H-II second stage second burn put the satellite into a much lower than planned orbit. The on-board Unified Propulsion System was used to raise it to a more useful orbit.

Typical orbit: 479 x 17710 km, 30.1 deg inclinaton. Associated Launch Vehicle: H-2.

• 1998 February 21 - Kakehashi - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: H-2. Perigee: 1,033 km (641 mi). Apogee: 17,727 km (11,015 mi). Inclination: 30.10 deg. Period: 328.10 min.

  Kakehashi, meaning 'Bridge', was called Communuications and Broadcasting Experimental Test Satellite (COMETS) before launch. It contained Ka-band communications and inter-satellite data relay payloads. Premature shutdown 44 seconds into the H-II second stage second burn put the satellite into a much lower than planned orbit. The on-board Unified Propulsion System was used to raise it to a more useful orbit.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• NASA GSFC Orbital Parameters, .