Fuji (Spacecraft)
Encyclopedia
Fuji was a manned spacecraft
of the space capsule
kind, proposed by Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) Advanced mission Research center in December 2001. The Fuji design was ultimately not adopted.
, manned space flight prior to 2001 had depended on the USA
Space Shuttle program
, and independent development of spacecraft was not adopted as a short to mid-term goal. Instead, NASDA choose to recommend use of Reusable Launch Systems with wings such as the US Space Shuttle
and HOPE
.
However, after the Japanese government reorganized their space exploration efforts under the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA), Fuji was proposed as a candidate for space missions. The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
in 2003 also raised questions about the safety of reusable systems, and JAXA felt that the Fuji design, relying on a disposable capsule, would be possible to develop in relatively short span of eight years.
and Soyuz
spacecraft), with various configurations filling different roles.
with a manned space flight
endurance of 24 hours. It was scheduled for development at the early stage of the overall project. This minimum system called the Core Module (CM), and was to be a cone
-shaped module with a diameter of 3.7m, gross weight of 3 tonnes or less, and room for a crew of three. It was to have thrusters for position control and a rocket engine
capable of producing a small amount of thrust. The targeted manufacturing cost was to be about 800 million yen each.
spacecraft's Orbital Module (OM). The PM has rocket engine to facilitate orbit changes, and also a solar cell
paddle for production of electricity.
, and was based on the Minimum System. This system was to be a low cost version of the CM, capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers.
module, and an inflatable Simple Life Support Module.
s and ablative heat shields.
After reentry, the Fuji capsule was to use a parafoil
and an automatic guidance system based GPS
technology for controlled descent and landing.
An open architecture
method was used in development of Fuji to control costs, promote technological development, and to expand the potential market. In particular, the developers disclosed information in the machine/electrical/thermal interface between systems, did not restrict the use of this interface, and provided the test criterion of systems.
In addition, Fuji was not to be limited to the H-IIA
rocket system for launching.
, with a Space station
, and flights to the moon
or asteroid
s
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
of the space capsule
Space capsule
A space capsule is an often manned spacecraft which has a simple shape for the main section, without any wings or other features to create lift during atmospheric reentry....
kind, proposed by Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) Advanced mission Research center in December 2001. The Fuji design was ultimately not adopted.
Background
In JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, manned space flight prior to 2001 had depended on the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Space Shuttle program
Space Shuttle program
NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System , was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011...
, and independent development of spacecraft was not adopted as a short to mid-term goal. Instead, NASDA choose to recommend use of Reusable Launch Systems with wings such as the US Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
and HOPE
HOPE-X
HOPE was a Japanese experimental spaceplane project designed by a partnership between NASDA and NAL , started in the 1980s. It was positioned for most of its lifetime as one of the main Japanese contributions to the International Space Station, the other being the Japanese Experiment Module...
.
However, after the Japanese government reorganized their space exploration efforts under the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The , or JAXA, is Japan's national aerospace agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003, as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the...
(JAXA), Fuji was proposed as a candidate for space missions. The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
in 2003 also raised questions about the safety of reusable systems, and JAXA felt that the Fuji design, relying on a disposable capsule, would be possible to develop in relatively short span of eight years.
Design
The proposed design of Fuji was a modular spacecraft (similar to the Gemini, ApolloApollo spacecraft
The Apollo spacecraft was composed of five combined parts designed to accomplish the American Apollo program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the 1960s and returning them safely to Earth...
and Soyuz
Soyuz spacecraft
Soyuz , Union) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today...
spacecraft), with various configurations filling different roles.
Minimum System
The Minimum System configuration of Fuji was essentially just a Reentry capsuleReentry capsule
A reentry capsule is the portion of a spacecraft which returns to Earth following a space flight. The shape is determined partly by aerodynamics; a capsule is aerodynamically stable falling blunt end first, which allows only the blunt end to require a heat shield for atmospheric reentry. Its shape...
with a manned space flight
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
endurance of 24 hours. It was scheduled for development at the early stage of the overall project. This minimum system called the Core Module (CM), and was to be a cone
Cone (geometry)
A cone is an n-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a base to a point called the apex or vertex. Formally, it is the solid figure formed by the locus of all straight line segments that join the apex to the base...
-shaped module with a diameter of 3.7m, gross weight of 3 tonnes or less, and room for a crew of three. It was to have thrusters for position control and a rocket engine
Rocket engine
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket", is a jet engineRocket Propulsion Elements; 7th edition- chapter 1 that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law...
capable of producing a small amount of thrust. The targeted manufacturing cost was to be about 800 million yen each.
Standard System
The Standard System was designed to be capable of flights of one month's duration and into lunar orbit. This system was to consist of the minimum system and two additional modules, an Expansion Module (EM) and a Propulsion Module (PM). The EM was envisioned as a living space, used for a long-term space flights, roughly similar in purpose to the SoyuzSoyuz spacecraft
Soyuz , Union) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today...
spacecraft's Orbital Module (OM). The PM has rocket engine to facilitate orbit changes, and also a solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
paddle for production of electricity.
Economy System
The design of the Economy System sought to lower the cost of space travelSpaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
, and was based on the Minimum System. This system was to be a low cost version of the CM, capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers.
Other modules
Additional modules were planned, including a Space Laboratory Module equipped with a heat radiation mechanism, a Robotic armRobotic arm
A mechanical arm is a robotic, usually programmable, with similar functions to a human arm. The links of such a manipulator are connected by joints allowing either rotational motion or translational displacement. The links of the manipulator can be considered to form a kinematic chain...
module, and an inflatable Simple Life Support Module.
Features
The Fuji spacecraft was designed to ensure safety by adopting common existing technologies such as escape rocketLaunch escape system
A Launch Escape System is a top-mounted rocket connected to the crew module of a crewed spacecraft and used to quickly separate the crew module from the rest of the rocket in case of emergency. Since the escape rockets are above the crew module, an LES typically uses separate nozzles which are...
s and ablative heat shields.
After reentry, the Fuji capsule was to use a parafoil
Parafoil
A parafoil is a nonrigid airfoil with an aerodynamic cell structure which is inflated by the wind. Ram-air inflation forces the parafoil into a classic wing cross-section. Parafoils are most commonly constructed out of ripstop nylon....
and an automatic guidance system based GPS
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
technology for controlled descent and landing.
An open architecture
Open architecture
Open architecture is a type of computer architecture or software architecture that allows adding, upgrading and swapping components. For example, the IBM PC and Apple IIe have an open architecture, whereas the Apple IIc and Amiga 500 computers have a closed architecture...
method was used in development of Fuji to control costs, promote technological development, and to expand the potential market. In particular, the developers disclosed information in the machine/electrical/thermal interface between systems, did not restrict the use of this interface, and provided the test criterion of systems.
In addition, Fuji was not to be limited to the H-IIA
H-IIA
H-IIA is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch an interplanetary...
rocket system for launching.
Advanced Concepts
A variety of purpose were envisioned for the Fuji system, including uses for Space tourismSpace tourism
Space Tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. A number of startup companies have sprung up in recent years, hoping to create a space tourism industry...
, with a Space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
, and flights to the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
or asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
s
External links
- Wallpaper of the Fuji Spacecraft (Japanese)