SMILES

First global environmental observation from the Japanese Experiment Module, KIBO

The Superconducting Submillimeter-wave Limb Emission Sounder (SMILES) is an atmospheric observation sensor of unprecedented high sensitivity with superconducting technology. SMILES is the first instrument to observe the global environment in the Japanese Experiment Module "KIBO" onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

SMILES and international space station

The atmosphere protects Earth

Highly sensitive data obtained through SMILES observation will open a new issue of atmosphere that protects the earth, the home of humankind. It is also expected to contribute to global environmental diagnosis. SMILES was jointly developed by the National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

SMILES is
under observation mode


SMILES Spectrum

What's New

2010/Feb/09 (JST)

International SMILES ccience team meeting will held on 1-3 March.

2009/Dec/09 (JST)

Review of SMILES data processing will held on December 09, 2009 in NICT. The recent status of SMIELS/NICT processing will be reported. Presentation files plan to up to SMILES web-page SMILES/NICT processing

2009/Nov/06 (JST)

SMILES instrument had started the operational observation from Nov 06. 2009.

2009/Oct/21 (JST)

The SMILES instrument is working well. Observation is basically performing continuously. SMILES will start the operational observation from around 28 October. NICT plan to have a review at the early in December 2010.

2009/Oct/20 (JST)

Press relase was performed with the initial data on 12 October 2009. SMILES press relase (Japanese)

2009/Oct/13 (JST)

The first global data had been taken. Spectrum keep good status with no standing wave. ClO zeeman effect observe with global observation.

2009/Oct/12 (JST)

The initial/test atmospheric observation mode has been started from 12 October.

2009/Oct/10 (JST)

The first atmospheric spectrum was taken. Beautiful spectrum observed with Tsys less than 500K and with no standing wave. Press release will be at 15 October for the first spectrum taken.

2009/Oct/08 (JST)

Cold Load, 2.7K cosmic background radiation, observed with SMILES receiver system for the confirmation of the system. Difference of the brightness temperature measured was less than 0.2K during one/two hours (Stable!). It was confirmed that the solar paddles certainly disturb the SMILES-line-of-sight during observation. We will start manual atmospheric observation from 10 October 2009.

2009/Oct/06 (JST)

SIS mixer system (SIS + LO) are under the checking.

2009/Oct/05 (JST)

Antenna driving system had confirmed. Orbit and position data were confirmed. Calibration hot load worked.

2009/Oct/02 (JST)

SIS mixers was confirmed the superconductive status. Submillimeter-wave local oscillator was confirmed the oscillation and the phase locked. AOS diode laser was confirmed.

2009/Sep/30 (JST)

Star tracker was checked out. Data from STT was transported to JAXA/TKSC without any problem.

2009/Sep/28 12:00 (JST)

Temperature of SMILES receievr reached to 4.1K

2009/Sep/25 09:27 (JST)

SMILES was powered on.

2009/Sep/18 07:26 (JST)

SMILES on HTV arrived at the ISS. SMILES will be installed at JEM/EF by manipulation of robotic arms in next one week.

2009/Sep/11 02:01:46 (JST)

SMILES was launced via HTV/H-IIB from Tanegashima Space Center, JAXA.