Japan sends Kounotori 2 spacecraft on suicide mission to review re-entry process

An unmanned cargo ship built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is determined to head up in flames tomorrow within the name of interplanetary research. In addition to a load of space station junk, the Kounotori 2 spacecraft is packing something corresponding to a black box , referred to as a Re-entry Breakup Recorder (REBR), as a way to collect and transmit data in regards to the ship’s final moments. The distance station’s crew will activate the REBR before Kounotori 2 begins its final assignment. Once it starts showing signs of re-entry, the sensor will start to collect data including temperature, acceleration, and rotation rate, and should then break free from the craft for a last free fall to Earth, at which point the REBR will dump its findings. Scientist hope the device may help answer questions on exactly what happens when things disintegrate during re-entry. If all goes in step with plan, the REBR will plunk down inside the ocean sometime later, but its host seriously isn’t seen again… farewell, Kounotori 2.

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This post is tagged: answer questions, fall to earth, rotation rate, Space Station, unmanned cargo ship