Research on Very Small Satellite Design and Development

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The purposes of this research are to establish design and development procedures of small satellites, to accumulate related technologies, and to bring up experienced engineers in space development, through efforts of experimental development of small satellites in universities. During the four-year pursuit of this research, the partner universities, Kyushu University and Tokyo University, made substantial progress toward these purposes, through efforts toward respective goal adopted by each university.Kyushu University established system architecture and critical technology elements of 50 kg class satellite that demonstrates tether technology. Tokyo University, on the other hand, focused its effort to a very small 1 kg satellite and verified its capability to operate in orbit. These tasks were done under close technical exchanges and adoption of common technical elements, in order that collaboration of mutual research may be facilitated and overlapping investment may be avoided.Collaboration between two universities has been further strengthened by establishment of the University Space Engineering Consortium. This is considered to be an important outcome, by expanding collaboration to nation wide movement inspired by the present collaborative research work.