This paper describes the nominal operation plan, results, and other plans of OMOTENASHI, which was developed as the world’s smallest lunar lander and launched as a sub-payload of NASA’s Artemis-1. OMOTENASHI is a 6U CubeSat with limited electric power resources and control capability compared with a typical large spacecraft. Because OMOTENASHI would make its lunar landing directly from a lunar transfer orbit without entering a lunar orbit, it took only five days from rocket separation to landing. Thus, spacecraft power-on, critical operational events, and lunar landing operations must be conducted during this short period. Various solutions were considered for implementing the operation plan under limited spacecraft capabilities and operation time. Unfortunately, the mission failed due to a malfunction immediately after the rocket separation. Although telemetry was received temporarily, the spacecraft could not control its attitude relative to the sun and depleted its battery power. It is suspected that the malfunction was caused by an open valve failure in the gas jet thruster. After failing to make the lunar landing, OMOTENASHI is still traveling through space. As the spacecraft revolves around the sun, there is a gradual change in its orientation, and it generates electricity. Search and recovery operations were conducted, but the spacecraft has yet to be located.
Operational Plan, Results and Recovery Scenarios of CubeSat Lunar Lander OMOTENASHI
Springer Aerospace Techn.
International Conference on Space Operations ; 2023 ; Dubai, United Arab Emirates March 06, 2023 - March 10, 2023
2024-12-14
26 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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