The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has announced their Small Demonstration Satellite-1 (SDS-1) has been moved to the initial functional verification operation.

This is the period within which the functions of the satellite bus and experiment devices are verified. This move was conducted after completing the satellite's critical operation on January 27, 2009 (Japan Standard Time, JST). The SDS-1 was launched as a piggyback satellite with the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" (GOSAT) by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No.15 at 12:54 p.m. on January 23, 2009 (JST). The satellite is currently in good condition and JAXA will be carrying out the initial functional verification for about one month.