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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
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Completion of the Critical Phase of the
Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8"

December 27, 2006 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shifted the attitude
control mode of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8" to
the regular control mode at 4:14 a.m. on December 27, 2006 (Japan
Standard Time, JST). All functions of the satellite have been verified
to be normal after the control mode shift.
This marks the end of the critical phase, and we are moving to the
initial functional verification phase.

In the initial functional verification phase, it will take about two
weeks for the orbit to be gradually coordinated to the target
Geostationary orbit at an east longitude of 146 degrees from the
current drift orbit. Also, we will check the onboard equipment for
about three and half months in cooperation with the National Institute
of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Nippon
Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT,) who are the collaborative
development organizations of the "KIKU No. 8."

We would like to extend our profound appreciation to all related
parties who have supported the launch and tracking and control
operations of the "KIKU No. 8."

This page URL:

http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/12/20061227_kiku8_e.html

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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
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