Ajisai
Means "hydrangea", also called EGP
Japanese satellite designed to provide an orbiting benchmark for geodynamical
studies of the Earth. Laser retroflectors are mounted on the surface of the
spherical satellite to return incident laser radiation to its point of
origin.
Mass
at launch
|
685
kg
|
Diameter
|
2.15
m
|
Stabilization
|
passive
|
It featured 1436 (120 sets) Corner-cube Reflectors and 318 Sunlight Reflection
Mirrors
Mission: accurate measurement of the satellite's position with respect to
Earth; readjustment of domestic triangulation net for accurate map-making;
establishment of ocean geodetic net to position outlying islands.