AQT-D (Aqua Thruster-Demonstrator) was a nanosatellite project of the University of Tokyo (UT) Space Propulsion Laboratory with the purpose of testing water-fueled propulsion. The satellite was a CubeSat of 3U size; 1U was occupied by the propulsion system, while the remaining 2U was for the spacecraft bus.^[1] AQT-D was carried to space inside the pressurized section of Kounotori 8, a Japanese resupply vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS).^[2] Kounotori 8 was launched on 24 September 2019. After arriving at the ISS, AQT-D was deployed to space on 20 November 2019 using the JEMRMS robotic arm at the space station's Kibō laboratory module.^[3]

The AQT-D project was led by Jun Asakawa of the University of Tokyo.^[4]

AQT-D reentered the atmosphere on 20 April 2022.^[5]

Spacecraft

AQT-D's spacecraft bus was based on Tasuki (TRICOM-1R), a previous satellite developed by the University of Tokyo and launched in 2017.^[1] The satellite was equipped with antennas for store and forward communication.^[1]

Propulsion

AQT-D's propulsion system, called AQUARIUS-1U (Aqua Resistojet Propulsion System-1U), consisted of five water thrusters. A single delta-v thruster produced 4.0 mN, and four reaction control thrusters 1.0 mN, for attitude control.^[1][6] The spacecraft carried less than 0.4 kg of water.^[6] The delta-v thruster produced a specific impulse (I_sp) of 70 seconds, and a maximum 4.0 mN of thrust, which was dependent on available power.^[6] AQUARIUS-1U's design was based on the planned deep space probe EQUULEUS's propulsion system.^[6] According to the University of Tokyo, AQT-D was the first ISS-deployed satellite to have water-based propulsion.^[1][6] While satellites deployed from the ISS typically have a short lifetime owing to the station's low altitude, satellites equipped with a propulsion system like AQT-D may potentially remain in orbit for an extended period of time.^[6]