Ajisai is Japanese for Hydrangea. Prior to launch, the satellite was called Experimental Geodetic Satellite (EGS). The Ajisai mission has two primary objectives. The first objective, which was short term, was testing of NASDA's (now JAXA) H-I, two-stage, launch vehicle. The second and primary long term objective was to determine the exact positions of the many isolated Japanese Islands. Ajisai can also be used for directional and photometric observations, using the mirrors equipped on the surface of satellite.

Mission Instrumentation:

Ajisai has the following instrumentation onboard:

Mirrors (318)
Retroreflector array

Mission Parameters:

Ajisai Parameters
Sponsor:	JAXA (Japan)
Expected Life:	Many decades
Primary Application:	Geodesy
COSPAR ID:	8606101
SIC Code:	1500
NORAD SSC Code:	16908
Launch Date:	August 12, 1986
RRA Diameter:	215 cm
RRA Shape:	Circular
Reflectors:	1436 (+ 318 mirrors)
Orbit:	Circular
Inclination:	50.0 degrees
Eccentricity:	0.001
Perigee:	1490 km
Period:	116 minutes
Weight:	685 kg

Additional Information:

Web sites:

JAXA Ajisai Home Page

Publications:

Jiang Hu, Feng Chugang, "Discussion over Orbit Determination of Satellite Ajisai", Proc. of the 10th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Shanghai Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, November 11-15, p. 600, 1996.
Kunimori, H., Otsubo, T., May, T., Matsumoto, K., and Suzaki, Y., "Timing Control Precision for Synchronous Laser Ranging to Ajisai at Station of CRL and JHD", Symposium on Western Pacific Satellite Laser Ranging Network, in Proc. of the 9th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, p. 825, 1994.
Leonardi, M., "A Possible Use of Ajisai Mirrors for Two-Way Laser Synchronisation", Proc. of the 11th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Deggendorf, Germany, September 21-25, p. 729, 1998.
Otsubo, T., Kunimori, H., and Engelkemier, B., "Ajisai Tracking Campaign SLR Japan '94 Results", Symposium on Western Pacific Satellite Laser Ranging Network, in Proc. of the 9th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, p. 779, 1994.
Otsubo, T., Amagai, J., and Kunimori, H., "Dependence of Ajisai's Center-of-Mass Correction on Laser Ranging System", Proc. of the 10th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Shanghai Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, November 11-15, p. 223, 1996.
Otsubo, T., Amagai, J., and Kunimori, H., "Measuring Ajisai's Spin Motion", Proc. of the 11th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Deggendorf, Germany, September 21-25, p. 674, 1998.
Otsubo, T., and Endo, T., "Quick Bias Report for Lageos and Ajisai Data", Proc. of the 11th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Deggendorf, Germany, September 21-25, p. 650, 1998.
Otsubo, T. Amagai, J. Kunimori, H., The center-of-mass correction of the geodetic satellite AJISAI for single-photon laser ranging, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on, Volume: 37 Issue: 4, pp 2011-2018, July, 1999.
Otsubo, T. Amagai, J. Kunimori, H. Elphick, M., Spin motion of the AJISAI satellite derived from spectral analysis of laser ranging data, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on, Volume: 38 Issue: 3, pp 1417-1424, May, 2000
Sasaki, M., "Japanese Geodetic Satellite 'AJISAI' Launched in August 1986", Proc. of the 6th International Workshop on Laser Ranging Instrumentation, Antibes, France, September 22-26, p. 527, 1986.
Sengoku, A., "A plate motion study using Ajisai SLR data", Earth, Planets and Space, 50, 8, p. 611-627, 1998.