Overview of small satellites in Japan and their future prospect - observation and communication

摘要

In Japan, many micro and nanosatellites were launched and to be launched in 2013-2014. Seven pico, nano and micro satellites satellites with core satellite of GPM were launched in Feb. 28, 2014. UNIFORM and three other microsatellites were launched with ALOS-2 in May 24, 2014, Hodoyoshi-3 and 4 were launched in June 19, 2014 by using Dnepr. Hodoyoshi-1 and three other Japanese microsatellites will be launched in Oct. 2014. Most of them are earth observation satellite using VHF, UHF, S, X and Ku bands. Various optical sensors mounted on these satellites are compared. It was found that relatively higher spatial resolution (ex. 6-7m) and relatively wider swath width (ex. 25-28km) in 60-70kg class satellite Hodoyoshi-1 and Hodoyoshi-4 can be realized. Several components such as reaction wheel, ion engine, X band higher data rate transmitter, store and forward and rental space were also developed. Deep space mission Procyon with Hayabusa-2 will be launched in December, 2014. Satellite design contest is held every year since 1993. Some of microsatellites presented in the satellite contest were applied and launched after review by JAXA. Satellite design contest, ICSANE, nanosatellite symposium contribute to development of small satellite community in Japan and in the world. Most microsatellites are earth observation satellites and some of them are space research mission. In this paper, overview of pico micro and nano satellites in Japan and future mission are mainly presented.