Optical Disk Recorder (ODR) for Satellite Use

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 2005-05, Vol.44 (5S), p.3432
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Kunimaro, Itoh, Osamu, Iwai, Hitoshi, Kasuya, Masahiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-4922; 1347-4065
• DOI: 10.1143/JJAP.44.3432

An earth-observing satellite flies at an altitude of 800 km. The data acquired while the satellite flies at the opposite side of the earth from a telemetry station has to be stored in the satellite because it is difficult to establish a communication channel between the telemetry station and the satellite. The use of the first optical disk recorder (ODR) in space has been planned [H. Anegawa, T. Fukuda, S. Yamamoto, D. Maeusli and M. Kasuya: Proc. Int. Symp. Optical Memory '91 , (1991) p. 115; H. Anegawa, K. Tanaka and N. Tsuya: Proc. Optical Data Storage '92 p. 1 MD4 (1992)]. To make the optical disk drive work in space, the following measure was taken. The large acceleration during launching was solved using the launch lock mechanism. The temperature control mechanism was used to cope with a wide temperature change. Optical components were carefully selected for cosmic ray. ADEOS-II at which the ODR was installed was launched on December 14, 2002. The ODR had worked correctly for about ten months until the solar cell of the satellite stopped functioning. It was proved that the optical disk drive can work in space when an appropriate measure is taken.