Kibo configuration when all the components are assembled on orbit. Image courtesy of JAXA.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans the demonstration of small satellites deployment from the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" of the International Space Station (ISS) in order to enhance the capability of Kibo's utilization and to offer more launch oppotunities to small satellites. The following small satellites were selected as the first participants in this demonstration mission, which is expected to be launched to ISS in around Sep. 2012, and to be the first small satellites deployed from the ISS using the robotic arm.
Satellite name: RAIKO
Proposer: Wakayama University
Size: 2Uv
Missions:
- Shooting images of the Earth through a fish-eye lens camera
- Measuring relative movement when deployed from the ISS through photo shooting
- Experiment of a star sensor
- Orbit descending experiment using membrane deployment
- Development of a small movable ground station and receiving signals via international cooperation
- Orbit determination experiment by Doppler frequency measurement of Ku-band beacon radio wave
- High speed data communication experiment by Ku-band communication equipment
Satellite name: FITSAT-1
Proposer: Fukuoka Institute of Technology
Size: 1U
Missions:
- Demonstration of a high-speed transmission module for a small satellite
- Visible light communication experiment by high power LED
Satellite name: WE WISH
Proposer: Meisei Electric Co., Ltd.
Size: 1U
Missions:
- To contribute to local technology education and to promote utilization of data acquired by a small satellite
- Demonstration of an ultra-small thermal infrared camera