Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

OREX

OREX was a NASDA re-entry demonstrator prototype which was launched in 1994 on the H-II launcher; the satellite was renamed Ryūsei . It was a precursor for the Japanese space shuttle HOPE.

Last revised
Jun 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
187 w
Citations
3
Source
Ryusei
1:1 scale model of OREX and the Vehicle Evaluation Payload within the H-II fairing, at the Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorNASDA
COSPAR ID1994-007A
SATCAT no.22978
Websitewww.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/orex/index_e.html
Mission duration2 hours
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNASDA
Launch mass865 kilograms (1,907 lb)
Landing mass761 kilograms (1,678 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date3 February 1994, 22:20 (1994-02-03UTC22:20Z) UTC1
RocketH-II
Launch siteTanegashima Yoshinobu 1
End of mission
Landing date4 February 1994, 00:30 (1994-02-04UTC00:31Z) UTC2
Landing sitePacific Ocean
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude448 kilometres (278 mi)
Apogee altitude458 kilometres (285 mi)
Inclination30.5 degrees
Period93.64 minutes
Epoch3 February 19943

OREX (Orbital Re-entry Experiment) was a NASDA re-entry demonstrator prototype which was launched in 1994 on the H-II launcher; the satellite was renamed Ryūsei (りゅうせい, Shooting star). It was a precursor for the Japanese space shuttle HOPE.

OREX tested various communications systems, heating profiles and heat shielding components for HOPE.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan (7 February 1994). "Issue 183". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
External links