# Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hypervelocity

> spacecraft used to test reentry systems for the Hayabusa probe, failed to separate from launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q8354666](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8354666)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/demonstrator-of-atmospheric-reentry-system-and-hypervelocity

## Summary
The Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hypervelocity (DASH) was a Japanese microsatellite intended to test reentry systems for the Hayabusa probe. Launched on February 4, 2002, the spacecraft failed to separate from its H-IIA launch vehicle, resulting in a mission failure. It had a mass of 89 kilograms and was assigned the COSPAR ID 2002-003B.

## Key Facts
- **Mission Outcome**: The spacecraft failed to separate from the launch vehicle, preventing the completion of its mission.
- **Purpose**: It was designed to test atmospheric reentry systems specifically for the Hayabusa probe.
- **Launch Date**: February 4, 2002, at 02:45.
- **Launch Vehicle**: H-IIA (specifically the H-IIA-2F configuration).
- **Spacecraft Type**: Microsatellite (defined as a miniaturized artificial satellite generally less than 100 to 200 kg).
- **Mass**: 89 kilograms.
- **Launch Site**: Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1.
- **Identifiers**: COSPAR ID 2002-003B; NSSDCA ID 2002-003B.
- **Aliases**: Also known as "Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hipervelocidad."

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of the DASH spacecraft?
A: DASH was built to demonstrate and test atmospheric reentry systems that were intended to be used on the Hayabusa probe.

### Q: Why did the DASH mission fail?
A: The mission failed because the spacecraft was unable to separate from the H-IIA launch vehicle after liftoff.

### Q: When and how was the Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hypervelocity launched?
A: It was launched on February 4, 2002, at 02:45, using an H-IIA rocket from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1.

## Why It Matters
The Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hypervelocity represents a critical, albeit unsuccessful, step in the development of advanced space exploration technologies. Its primary significance lies in its intended role as a precursor to the Hayabusa mission, which aimed to return samples from an asteroid to Earth. Testing high-speed reentry systems is essential for bringing extraterrestrial materials back through Earth's atmosphere safely.

While the DASH mission ended in failure due to a separation anomaly, such tests are vital for validating the harsh dynamics of hypervelocity reentry. The data and lessons learned from the failure of this 89 kg microsatellite contribute to the reliability of future deployment mechanisms and reentry shielding. It serves as a historical data point in the timeline of the H-IIA launch vehicle's operational history and Japan's broader efforts in deep-space sample return missions.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated testbed for the Hayabusa probe's reentry capabilities.
- Suffering a critical separation failure that prevented the mission from proceeding.
- Being classified as a microsatellite with a specific mass of 89 kg.
- Launching on the H-IIA-2F configuration.
- Operating under the specific COSPAR international designation 2002-003B.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Objectives
The Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System and Hypervelocity (DASH) was developed as an experimental microsatellite. Its core objective was to validate the engineering and physics associated with atmospheric reentry at hypervelocity speeds. This data was specifically required for the development of the Hayabusa probe, a high-profile mission designed to visit a near-Earth asteroid.

### Launch Details
The spacecraft was launched on February 4, 2002. The liftoff occurred at 02:45 from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 1. The delivery system used was the H-IIA, a Japanese medium-lift expendable launch vehicle, flying in its H-IIA-2F configuration.

### Failure and Outcome
Despite a successful launch, the mission was declared a failure immediately after the scheduled deployment time. The DASH microsatellite failed to separate from the upper stage of the H-IIA rocket. Without separation, the spacecraft could not initiate its independent orbit or reentry trajectory, rendering the experiment unable to collect data on the atmospheric reentry system.

### Specifications
- **Class**: Microsatellite
- **Mass**: 89 kg
- **International Designator**: 2002-003B

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report