SFU

Space Flyer Unit

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General

Designation	23521 / 95011A
Launch date	17 Mar 1995
Country of origin	Japan
Mission	Scientific
Perigee/Apogee	467/496 km
Inclination	28.5°
Period	92 min
Launch vehicle	H2

SFU carried out materials processing, technology and astronomy experiments. It carried the 0.15 m liquid helium cooled IR Telescope in Space (IRTS), with near and mid infrared spectrometers; a biology experiment studying salamander eggs; an electron density experiment; materials processing furnaces; and technology experiments with solar arrays and an electric thruster. It also carried an experimental platform to test technology for the JEM Exposed Facility planned for the Space Station, and as such it is the first flight element of Japan's Station program.

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End of life

Out of service	20 Jan 1996
Cause	Retrieved by STS 72

Downlink frequency: 2263.602 MHz

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External resources

http://www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp/irts/irts_E.html

sat-index articles

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