ID :
47834
Thu, 02/26/2009 - 21:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/47834
The shortlink copeid
FOCUS: Japan H2A rocket delivers student, private sector satellites+
TOKYO, Feb. 26 Kyodo -
A Japanese H2A rocket launched Jan. 23 delivered six tiny satellites developed
by students and the private sector into orbit.
The rocket lifted off from a launchpad on Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima
Prefecture carrying the Ibuki satellite, which monitors greenhouse gas
emissions, as its primary payload.
The six small satellites were selected after a call from the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency in 2006 for the private sector to send satellites into
space.
The smallest satellite, the KKS1, developed by students aged 15 to 22 at the
Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology is 15 centimeters wide. It
is equipped to analyze three-axis stabilized attitude control using gunpowder
and motors available on the market.
''We had a hard time trying to study at school and work on the KKS1 at the same
time and we're worried about whether it will operate as expected,'' Hisashi
Yuda, 19, said before the successful launch.
The launch of the small satellites marks the beginning of student and private
sector participation in efforts to send satellites into orbit. JAXA, an
independent administrative agency and the nation's only space development
organization, launched the satellites free of charge.
In addition to the KKS1, the Maido1 satellite was developed by the Astro
Technology Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association in Higashiosaka,
Osaka Prefecture. The association's nine small and midsize companies and Osaka
Prefecture University students participated in the development of the
satellite, which observes radio waves generated by thunderstorms.
The university students are managing the operation of the Maido1 satellite
after its launch.
Hideo Sugimoto, vice president of the association, said he is looking forward
to the emergence of young people willing to take on the development of
satellites.
Some local companies established a new organization last year to pursue
business opportunities by supplying the know-how gleaned from the Maido1
project to domestic and overseas firms and universities.
The other satellites launched were Sprite-SAT, Kagayaki, Kukai and Hitomi.
Sprite-SAT is a micro satellite designed to conduct scientific observations of
upper atmospheric flashes associated with thunderstorms.
Developed by Tohoku University, associate professor Yukihiro Takahashi said
that Sprite-SAT will represent a world-class scientific achievement if it
succeeds. JAXA said the satellite will be the first to make such scientific
observations.
Tohoku University students jointly developed the satellite's observation camera
with a small and a midsize company for several hundred thousand yen instead of
the tens of millions of yen it would have cost a company to manufacture.
Graduate student Kozo Yamashita, 26, said the observation equipment he was in
charge of broke down while being tested. ''But my university professors,
colleagues and company people helped me,'' he said, adding the experience would
benefit him for years to come.
The Kagayaki satellite produced by system developer Sorun Corp. features a
parachute carrying the handprints of handicapped children and those suffering
from illnesses and takes pictures of them with the Earth in the background.
The Kukai satellite, developed by Kagawa University, has a master camera tied
to another camera and the second camera takes pictures of the master camera by
remote control.
The Hitomi satellite made by the University of Tokyo is equipped with a
telephoto lens that extends around 50 centimeters to take photographs of the
Earth.
JAXA President Keiji Tachikawa said the space industry will not develop if only
a limited number of organizations and manufacturers are involved, adding that
he would like to promote the development of satellites by talented students and
private sector personnel.
JAXA has also chosen four satellites to go into orbit with a Venus probe it
plans to launch next year and continues to accept applications from the private
sector to launch satellites into space.
==Kyodo
2009-02-26 22:31:01
A Japanese H2A rocket launched Jan. 23 delivered six tiny satellites developed
by students and the private sector into orbit.
The rocket lifted off from a launchpad on Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima
Prefecture carrying the Ibuki satellite, which monitors greenhouse gas
emissions, as its primary payload.
The six small satellites were selected after a call from the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency in 2006 for the private sector to send satellites into
space.
The smallest satellite, the KKS1, developed by students aged 15 to 22 at the
Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology is 15 centimeters wide. It
is equipped to analyze three-axis stabilized attitude control using gunpowder
and motors available on the market.
''We had a hard time trying to study at school and work on the KKS1 at the same
time and we're worried about whether it will operate as expected,'' Hisashi
Yuda, 19, said before the successful launch.
The launch of the small satellites marks the beginning of student and private
sector participation in efforts to send satellites into orbit. JAXA, an
independent administrative agency and the nation's only space development
organization, launched the satellites free of charge.
In addition to the KKS1, the Maido1 satellite was developed by the Astro
Technology Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association in Higashiosaka,
Osaka Prefecture. The association's nine small and midsize companies and Osaka
Prefecture University students participated in the development of the
satellite, which observes radio waves generated by thunderstorms.
The university students are managing the operation of the Maido1 satellite
after its launch.
Hideo Sugimoto, vice president of the association, said he is looking forward
to the emergence of young people willing to take on the development of
satellites.
Some local companies established a new organization last year to pursue
business opportunities by supplying the know-how gleaned from the Maido1
project to domestic and overseas firms and universities.
The other satellites launched were Sprite-SAT, Kagayaki, Kukai and Hitomi.
Sprite-SAT is a micro satellite designed to conduct scientific observations of
upper atmospheric flashes associated with thunderstorms.
Developed by Tohoku University, associate professor Yukihiro Takahashi said
that Sprite-SAT will represent a world-class scientific achievement if it
succeeds. JAXA said the satellite will be the first to make such scientific
observations.
Tohoku University students jointly developed the satellite's observation camera
with a small and a midsize company for several hundred thousand yen instead of
the tens of millions of yen it would have cost a company to manufacture.
Graduate student Kozo Yamashita, 26, said the observation equipment he was in
charge of broke down while being tested. ''But my university professors,
colleagues and company people helped me,'' he said, adding the experience would
benefit him for years to come.
The Kagayaki satellite produced by system developer Sorun Corp. features a
parachute carrying the handprints of handicapped children and those suffering
from illnesses and takes pictures of them with the Earth in the background.
The Kukai satellite, developed by Kagawa University, has a master camera tied
to another camera and the second camera takes pictures of the master camera by
remote control.
The Hitomi satellite made by the University of Tokyo is equipped with a
telephoto lens that extends around 50 centimeters to take photographs of the
Earth.
JAXA President Keiji Tachikawa said the space industry will not develop if only
a limited number of organizations and manufacturers are involved, adding that
he would like to promote the development of satellites by talented students and
private sector personnel.
JAXA has also chosen four satellites to go into orbit with a Venus probe it
plans to launch next year and continues to accept applications from the private
sector to launch satellites into space.
==Kyodo
2009-02-26 22:31:01
