# Kiku-6

> Japanese technology demonstration satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q11264739](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11264739)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kiku-6

## Summary  
Kiku‑6 (also known as Engineering Test Satellite 6, ETS‑6, ETS VI, or ETS‑VI) is a Japanese technology‑demonstration satellite launched on 28 August 1994. Operated by the National Space Development Agency, it was placed into orbit using an H‑II launch vehicle from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex Pad 1 and forms part of Japan’s Kiku series of experimental spacecraft.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 28 August 1994 at 07:50 UTC.  
- **Launch vehicle:** H‑II rocket (specific configuration H‑II‑2F).  
- **Launch site:** Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Launch Pad 1, Japan.  
- **Operator:** National Space Development Agency (Japan).  
- **COSPAR ID / NSSDC ID:** 1994‑056A.  
- **Mission type:** Technology demonstration spacecraft (part of the Kiku series).  
- **Series position:** Follows Kiku‑5 and precedes Kiku‑7 Chaser.  
- **Country of origin:** Japan.  
- **Aliases:** Engineering Test Satellite 6, ETS‑6, ETS VI, ETS‑VI.  
- **Wikidata entry:** Satellite 23230 (Wikidata description: “Japanese technology demonstration satellite”).

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Kiku‑6?  
A: Kiku‑6 was built to test and validate experimental technologies in orbit, serving as a technology‑demonstration platform for Japan’s space program.  

### Q: Which rocket launched Kiku‑6 and when?  
A: The satellite was launched on 28 August 1994 at 07:50 UTC aboard an H‑II launch vehicle (H‑II‑2F configuration).  

### Q: Who operated Kiku‑6 and what series does it belong to?  
A: It was operated by Japan’s National Space Development Agency and is part of the Kiku series of technology‑demonstration spacecraft.  

### Q: What satellites are directly related to Kiku‑6?  
A: Kiku‑6 follows Kiku‑5 and is succeeded by Kiku‑7 Chaser, a rendezvous‑demonstration satellite.  

### Q: Where was Kiku‑6 launched from?  
A: The launch took place at the Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Launch Pad 1, in Japan.  

## Why It Matters  
Kiku‑6 represents a pivotal step in Japan’s autonomous development of space‑based technologies. By serving as a testbed for experimental systems, it helped validate components and operational concepts that underpin later, more complex missions, such as rendezvous and docking demonstrations embodied by its successor, Kiku‑7 Chaser. The satellite’s successful deployment on the domestically produced H‑II launch vehicle demonstrated Japan’s growing launch capability and contributed to the nation’s strategic independence in space. Moreover, the data gathered from Kiku‑6’s experiments informed design choices for subsequent scientific and commercial satellites, reinforcing Japan’s role in the global aerospace community. Its place within the Kiku series showcases a systematic approach to incremental technology validation, a model that continues to influence modern satellite development programs worldwide.

## Notable For  
- First Japanese technology‑demonstration satellite launched on an H‑II launch vehicle.  
- Part of the Kiku series, bridging the gap between earlier test satellites (Kiku‑5) and later rendezvous missions (Kiku‑7 Chaser).  
- Operated by the National Space Development Agency, highlighting Japan’s governmental commitment to space technology research.  
- Assigned the COSPAR identifier 1994‑056A, marking its official entry into the international satellite registry.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Kiku‑6, also referred to as ETS‑6, is a Japanese experimental satellite designed to test new space technologies. It belongs to the Kiku series, a collection of spacecraft dedicated to engineering validation rather than operational services.

### Mission Profile  
- **Launch:** 28 August 1994, 07:50 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** H‑II rocket, configuration H‑II‑2F.  
- **Site:** Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Pad 1, Japan.  
- **Operator:** National Space Development Agency (Japan).  

### Technical Details  
- **Classification:** Technology demonstration spacecraft (instance of the broader class “technology demonstration spacecraft”).  
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1994‑056A; NSSDC ID 1994‑056A; Wikidata satellite 23230.  
- **Aliases:** Engineering Test Satellite 6, ETS‑6, ETS VI, ETS‑VI.  

### Series Context  
- **Predecessor:** Kiku‑5, another Japanese technology‑demonstration satellite.  
- **Successor:** Kiku‑7 Chaser, a satellite focused on rendezvous demonstration.  
- **Parent series:** Kiku, a Japanese series of experimental spacecraft.  

### Legacy and Impact  
Kiku‑6’s successful deployment validated the H‑II launch system and provided critical data for subsequent Japanese missions. Its role as a technology testbed contributed to the development of more advanced satellite capabilities, influencing both national and international space endeavors.

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Kiku-6",
  "description": "Japanese technology demonstration satellite launched on 28 August 1994.",
  "additionalType": "TechnologyDemonstrationSatellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report