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Reentry data acquisition using I Ball Reentry Recorder (I BALL)
05.08.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Keiichi Wada, Maki Maeda, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

The I BALL investigation consists of a spherical sensor assembly that acquires continuous position, acceleration, temperature, and imagery data during the HTV reentry phase. I BALL is launched onboard the HTV3 vehicle and is installed, prior to hatch closure, onto a surface panel of an HTV Resupply Rack (HRR). During and after HTV3 atmospheric reentry, I BALL automatically collects data and sends it to the ground for processing in order to more thoroughly understand the processes and characteristics regarding spacecraft reentry.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Keiichi Wada, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki, Japan
  • Maki Maeda, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki, Japan

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Developer(s)
    Information Pending

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    May 2012 - September 2013

    Expeditions Assigned

    31/32,35/36

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • The I BALL investigation is being developed to get the actual engineering data during reentry operations, which helps engineers to more accurately control the future reentry capability of the HTV.


    • I BALL is a data acquisition device that obtains position, acceleration, temperature, imagery data during the HTV reentry phase. This data will be used to conduct analysis of the environment and various HTV characteristics encountered during reentry and allow engineers to more accurately estimate a range of HTV break-up altitudes.


    • Continuous reentry data acquisition contributes to an improvement of the reentry analysis, generating more accurate predictions and allowing controllers to specify a smaller splash-down area.


    • Smaller splash down areas will contribute advanced Japanese recovery vehicle studies, reduce design constraints, and allow for quick and swift recovery of future spacecraft.

    Description

    Information Pending

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    I BALL will contribute to ongoing advanced Japanese recovery vehicle studies, reduce design constraints, and allow for quick and swift recovery of future spacecraft.

    Earth Applications

    By determining the breakup phenomenon of the vehicle, we can specify a smaller splash-down area and can be minimized the notification area on the ground during the reentry.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Related Websites

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    Imagery

    image I BALL overview (Inside its packing material)
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    image Image of I BALL after installation on HRR
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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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