IHI-SAT

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
IHI-SAT
Mission typetechnology demonstration
OperatorIHI Corporation
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
Start of mission
Launch date19 February 2022
RocketAntares 230+
Launch siteMARS, Pad 0A
Deployed fromISS Kibō
Delivered by Cygnus NG-17
Deployment date24 March 2022
End of mission
Decay date18 November 2022
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6°

IHI-SAT was a satellite developed by IHI Corporation and the Tohoku University Space Robotics Laboratory for testing an automatic identification system (AIS) receiving system in space.[1] The satellite's size was 10cm×10cm×34cm, or a 3U size CubeSat. IHI-SAT was IHI Corporation's first satellite.[2]

Overview

[edit]

IHI Corporation is the prime contractor of JAXA's Epsilon solid fuel rocket, and has manufactured the propulsion system used on numerous satellites, such as the main engine of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft,[3] and the liquid apogee engine for geostationary satellites based on the Northrop Grumman GEOStar-2 and Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus. Despite this, prior to IHI-SAT the company had not built a entire satellite on its own.

IHI-SAT is the first satellite to be built by IHI Corporation, and will test an AIS receiving system.[2] Ground tests of the satellite was performed at the Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre.[4]

IHI-SAT decayed from orbit on 18 November 2022.[5]

Following the development of IHI-SAT, IHI Corporation has revealed plans to build several satellites on its own, such as signing a memorandum of understanding with ICEYE in May 2025 for manufacturing synthetic-aperture radar satellites in Japan to establish a satellite constellation,[6] and signing an agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology in September 2025.[7]

Spacecraft

[edit]

IHI-SAT is a 3U CubeSat with a receiving system for automatic identification system (AIS) signals sent from ships on Earth. Meisei Electric was involved in the development of IHI-SAT's AIS receiver. Once in space, the satellite's machinery cannot be fixed even if it malfunctions, so the satellite has a robust system that incorporates several recovery methods such as a self-diagnosis function.[2] For three-axis attitude control the satellite is equipped with a GomSpace microcomputer that includes a gyroscope and a geomagnetic sensor, and carries three reaction wheels from CubeSpace, and three magnetic torquers from NanoAvionics. IHI-SAT has a sun sensor attached on all sides. In order to maximize the AIS data collected by the AIS receiver, the satellite orients itself to constantly point the receiving antenna down towards the sea, as opposed to directing it at a specific point on Earth.[8] According to the Advanced Satellite Systems Technology Center (ASTEC), IHI-SAT likely has a VHF dipole antenna.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "軌道上サービス技術が拓く宇宙インフラの将来展望" (PDF) (in Japanese). Tohoku University. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  2. ^ a b c "IHI・Space BD　船舶位置情報受信システム実証衛星「IHI-SAT」がISSへの打上げに成功　～海上物流の効率化や海洋監視のニーズに対応し宇宙利用事業の推進を加速～" (Press release) (in Japanese). IHI Corporation. February 28, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  3. ^ "Orbital Sciences developed CygnusTM Spacecraft which uses IHI Aerospace's Delta-Velocity Engine as its main engine successfully berthed to the International Space Station" (Press release). IHI Corporation. October 13, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  4. ^ "ふくしま医療機器開発支援センターで試験を実施した超小型衛星「IHI-SAT」が宇宙に打ち上げられました" (Press release) (in Japanese). Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre. June 3, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "IHI-SAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  6. ^ "IHI and ICEYE agree to cooperate to develop earth-observation satellite constellation - Satellites to be manufactured and operated in Japan to strengthen national security - Imagery & capacity could be shared with Japan's allies & like-minded countries" (Press release). IHI Corporation. May 22, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  7. ^ "IHI collaborates with SSTL to develop Earth observation satellite constellation - Partnership with the UK's leading small satellite manufacturer will contribute to Japan's national security -" (Press release). IHI Corporation. September 8, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  8. ^ Murata, Yu; Sato, Yuji; Sakal, Morokot; Kuwahara, Toshinori; Fujita, Shinya; Kawasoe, Yuko; Shinohara, Ryu; Izumiya, Taku (12 January 2020). "Ground Evaluation of the Attitude Control System of 3U-CubeSat IHI-SAT". Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration. 2020 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration. Honolulu: IEEE. doi:10.1109/SII46433.2020.9025825. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  9. ^ "令和6年度地球観測技術等調査研究委託事業「将来地球観測衛星にかかる技術調査分析」" (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
[edit]
Stub icon

This article about one or more spacecraft of Japan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.