Raiko

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Raiko
Operator Tohoku University
Wakayama University
Bus 2U CubeSat
Mission type Technology
Launch date 21 July 2012, 02:06 (2012-07-21UTC02:06Z) UTC[1]
Carrier rocket H-IIB
Launch site Tanegashima Y2
Mass 2 kilograms (4.4 lb)
Orbital elements
Regime Low Earth
Inclination 51.65 degrees

Raiko (Japanese: 雷鼓, literally thunder drum) is a Japanese satellite which was built and operated by Tohoku and Wakayama Universities. A two-unit CubeSat, Raiko was deployed from the International Space Station on October 4, 2012, having been launched in July.

Raiko was launched aboard the Kounotori 3 spacecraft,[2] atop an H-IIB carrier rocket flying from Pad 2 of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Centre. The launch occurred at 02:06 UTC on 21 July 2012.[1] Four other CubeSats were launched with Raiko; We-Wish, Niwaka, TechEdSat and F-1. The five CubeSats was delivered to the International Space Station for deployment. CubeSats were deployed from Japanese Experiment Module Kibo via the J-SSOD system on October 4, 2012 .[3][4]

Named after a Japanese god of thunder,[5] Raiko is a 2-kilogram (4.4 lb) spacecraft, which will be used for technology demonstration. It carries a camera with a fish-eye lens for Earth imaging,[6] a prototype star tracker, a deployable membrane to slow the satellite, lowering its orbit, a photographic system to measure the satellite's movement relative to the International Space Station, and a Ku-band antenna for communications and Doppler ranging experiments.[7]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (20 July 2012). "Japanese H-IIB launches HTV-3 to the International Space Station". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  2. ^ Harwood, William (20 July 2012). "Japan successfully launches its freighter to space station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  3. ^ "2011年6月15日 ISSからの小型衛星放出実証ミッションに採択されました". Institute for Education in Space. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  4. ^ 大塚実 (25 January 2012). "JAXA、宇宙ステーションから超小型衛星を放出できる装置をプレス公開" (in Japanese). mynavi.jp. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  5. ^ "国際宇宙ステーション放出衛星「RAIKO」(雷鼓)". Tohoku University. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  6. ^ "The development of a microsatellite (RAIKO) is completed and delivered to JAXA". Tohoku University. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 
  7. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Raiko". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 July 2012. 

External links [edit]