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Remote-controlled docking is a space firstTwo Japan satellites in orbital embraceIn this story: July 7, 1998Web posted at: 12:56 p.m. EDT (1656 GMT) TOKYO (CNN) -- A pair of Japanese satellites named after mythical lovers successfully docked with one another on Tuesday, marking the first time such a space maneuver has been carried out via remote control from Earth, Japan's space agency said. The satellites were hooked up before being launched into space last November. On Tuesday, they separated about 6 feet (2 meters), then rejoined. Satellites have hooked up before in space, but always with the help of an astronaut.
Television pictures of the docking showed the smaller portion of Engineering Test Satellite-VII inching toward the larger portion, which gripped it with three sets of claw-like pincers. The zero-gravity rendezvous, carried out by technicians in Japan, lasted about 15 minutes, said a spokesman at Japan's National Space Development Agency. He said the experiment was conducted 341 miles (550 kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean with signals transmitted from Earth and relayed by a separate U.S.-made communications satellite.
The rendezvous was carried out in anticipation of the need for remote-controlled docking of supply shipments ferried by unmanned spacecraft to the space stations of the future. Japan is spending $2.2 billion to build four modules for the International Space Station, a joint project with the United States, Russia and the European Space Agency that is scheduled for completion in 2003. Experiments similar to the one on Tuesday are planned at roughly monthly intervals, with the distance between the two satellites gradually increasing. Tuesday's rendezvous was timed to coincide with Japan's "Tanabata," or stars festival, which celebrates the legendary meeting between a princess, Orihime, and her lover, Hikoboshi. Though punished by the gods, the two were still allowed to meet once a year on the night of July 7. Astronomers identify the two stars as Vega and Altair.
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