RAIKO
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorTohoku University
Wakayama University
COSPAR ID2012-038B (1998-067CN)
SATCAT no.38852
Mission duration284 days (achieved)
100 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
ManufacturerTohoku University
Wakayama University
Launch mass2 kg (4.4 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 20 cm (2U)
Start of mission
Launch date21 July 2012, 02:06:18 UTC[1]
RocketH-IIB F3
Launch siteTanegashima, Yoshinobu LC-Y2
ContractorMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Deployed fromISS Kibō
Delivered by Kounotori 3
Deployment date4 October 2012,
15:44:15.297 UTC
End of mission
Last contact15 July 2013
Decay date6 August 2013 [2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.65°
 

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 (ISS) on 4 October 2012, having been launched on 21 July 2012.

RAIKO was launched aboard the Kounotori 3 (HTV-3) spacecraft,[3] atop an H-IIB launch vehicle flying from pad LC-Y2 of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch occurred at 02:06:18 UTC on 21 July 2012.[1] Four other CubeSats were launched with RAIKO; WE WISH, FITSAT-1, TechEdSat-1 and F-1. The five CubeSats was delivered to the International Space Station for deployment. CubeSats were deployed from Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibō via the J-SSOD system on 4 October 2012.[4][5]

Named after a Japanese god of thunder,[6] RAIKO is a 2 kg (4.4 lb) spacecraft, which was used for technology demonstration. It carries a camera with a fish-eye lens for Earth imaging,[7] 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.[8]

WE WISH, RAIKO, FITSat 1, F-1, and TechEdSat-1 travelled to orbit aboard Kounotori 3 (HTV-3).[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Bergin, Chris (20 July 2012). "Japanese H-IIB launches HTV-3 to the International Space Station". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Trajectory: Raiko 2012-038B". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2013. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Harwood, William (20 July 2012). "Japan successfully launches its freighter to space station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. ^ "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 13 January 2021.
  5. ^ 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 13 January 2021.
  6. ^ "国際宇宙ステーション放出衛星「RAIKO」（雷鼓）". Tohoku University. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  7. ^ "The development of a microsatellite (RAIKO) is completed and delivered to JAXA". Tohoku University. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. ^ Krebs, Gunter (28 January 2020). "Raiko". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. ^ WE WISH

External links


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