System test completed on SELENE lunar orbiter

A system test on the moon orbiter was conducted between August 2003 and March 2004 at the Spacecraft Integration and Test Building (SITE) at the Tsukuba Space Center. The moon orbiter is the core satellite of the three satellites that compose the SELENE.

The test was to evaluate the comprehensive function of the satellite system by installing all onboard equipment into the structure.
JAXA conducted the following tests.

(1) Satellite bus interface verification (mechanical and electric performance)
(2) Mission equipment interface verification (mechanical and electric performance)
(3) Comprehensive operation check
(4) Mass property test (photo)
(5) Electromagnetic field interference test
(6) Magnetic test
(7) Microphonics test (*1)
(*1) This test was to make sure that micro vibrations caused by moving devices such as a motor do not affect the observation equipment. The satellite was slung up by a crane so that vibrations will not be transmitted through the floor.

JAXA were able to sort out issues for the next phase based on data acquired in the test. A unit environment test is scheduled next to evaluate the environmental adaptation of each onboard equipment, then JAXA will move on to the system proto flight test (PFT)

SELENE consists of the Main Orbiter and two small satellites (Relay Satellite and VRAD Satellite). The Main Orbiter will reach the vicinity of the Moon around five days after launch. Once it has reached the Moon, it will be placed into a peripolar orbit at an altitude of 100 km. The Relay Satellite will be placed in an elliptic orbit at an apogee of 2400 km, and will relay communications between the Main Orbiter and the ground station. The VRAD Satellite will play a significant role in measuring the gravitational field around the Moon. The Main Orbiter will be employed for about one year and will observe the entire Moon.

Source: JAXA