Japanese space agency selects Soka microsatellite for 2010 launch
2008.07.11
Members of Prof. Seiji Kuroki’s team |
On July 9, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) selected a satellite developed by Soka University students for launch in 2010. The Soka satellite, Negai (“wish”), will be part of a four-satellite payload slated for a piggyback launch with PLANET-C, which will explore the atmospheric dynamics of the planet Venus, by the H-IIA rocket. The “Negai” is a microsatellite—it measures just 10 centimeters cubic and weighs a mere kilogram—being developed by Soka’s engineering students led by Prof. Seiji Kuroki, who specializes in information systems science. It will be inserted into a near-Earth orbit of 300 kilometers and, after a few weeks, is expected to plunge back into the atmosphere, creating an artificial “shooting star.” Which is why it was named Negai, or to “wish upon a shooting star.” |
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Negai’s mission will be two-fold. It will serve as a test bed for a highly advanced information processing system presently being developed by Soka students that is extremely reliable and resistant to intense cosmic radiation. It also aims to spur interest in space exploration among children. The microsatellite will contain on microfilm the names and dreams of children recruited through a public campaign, and photographs taken of the Earth by Negai’s onboard camera will be distributed to campaign participants.
“The most important aspect of this satellite is that it is hand-made by the students” of Soka University, noted Prof. Kuroki. While underscoring Negai’s technical potential, the students believe mission should prove as meaningful in broadening vistas of the future for children. “Negai is a shooting star that has captured their dreams,” said the professor.
JAXA also chose microsatellites under development by Waseda University and Kagoshima University. The fourth is being developed by a space engineering consortium comprised of universities.
In addition, the Soka team hopes ham radio operators will also participate in the project if they live within a latitude range of 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south. Operators in that range can tune into a radio signal broadcast by the Negai.
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