OICETS (other name Kirari) is an experimental satellite by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means. OICETS was originally slated for a launch on the second J-I launcher. Unfortunately due to problems with this launcher, the launch had to be put on hold. Using the H-2A was out of question, since it would be overkill to use this model to send a 570kg satellite into LEO. Also there was no budget for another H-2A launch. Finally, in order to be able to perform the tests during the lifetime of the European Artemis satellite, OICETS was successfully launched on a Dnepr launcher.
Achievements
On December 9, 2005 Jaxa succeeded with establishing the optical links between OICETS (Kirari) and Artemis.
During March 2006 a successful link between OICETS and a ground station in Japan was established. This is the first optical links connection between a fixed ground station and an LEO satellite.
On June 7, 2006 Jaxa established a communication between OICETS and a mobile ground station operated by the German DLR.
