SpaceTuna1
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorKindai University
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
Start of mission
Launch date7 November 2022, 10:42:32 UTC[1]
RocketAntares 230+
Launch siteMARS, Pad 0A
Deployed fromISS Kibō
Delivered by Cygnus NG-18
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Inclination51.6°
 

SpaceTuna1 is a nanosatellite developed by Kindai University to test the properties of reflective materials in space.The project aims to use this technology to monitor tunas as an alternative to the use of tags for biologging.[2] SpaceTuna1 has been launched from Wallops Flight Facility on board a Cygnus spacecraft on 7 November 2022, and will later be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS).[1][3]

Overview

SpaceTuna1was jointly developed by Kindai University, EXEDY Corporation and Nippon Carbide Industries.[4] The spacecraft is a 10 cm size cube, or a 1U size CubeSat. The satellite frame was developed by EXEDY Corporation.[4]

The project started from 2016, and is the first satellite developed by Kindai University.[2] Kindai University is known in Japan for its extensive research on farming bluefin tuna, with the school earning the nickname 'tuna university'.[5]

Mission

Ecological survey of bluefin tuna is typically conducted by attaching a tag to the fish which will then take records of its position. The usefulness of the tags are limited by its battery life, and data cannot be gained in actual time but only after the tag is recovered. Furthermore attaching the tag can put a strain on the tuna as it necessitates processes such as laparotomy or attaching the tag to the fish's spine using a wire. Kindai University is proposing an alternative to the tags, a reflective sheet that can be attached to the fish. The movement of the tunas will be monitored from space by using a satellite equipped with a laser to irradiate the sheets. SpaceTuna1 will be used to test if the sheets can be observed from 300 km away.[6][7]

While in orbit, SpaceTuna1 will be irradiated with a laser sent from the ground.[8][9] The spacecraft is covered with a retroreflector sheet,[10] and ground-based receivers will measure the reflected light.[11] An optical ground station operated by Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) capable of tracking satellites will be used to irradiate SpaceTuna1.[10] Observations will be conducted for over a year to monitor how the sheet deteriorates in space.[4] The sheet was developed by Kindai University and Nippon Carbide Industries.[12]

On one side of the CubeSat light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are attached so that ground-based telescoped can optically detect its position in orbit.[10][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Spaceflight [@SpaceflightInc] (November 9, 2022). "Never a dull moment in space, but the #Cygnus has reach the #ISS with our customer payload, #SpaceTuna. Looking forward to deployment!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b Abe, Shuichi (April 18, 2018). "次は「宇宙マグロ」 生態解明へ衛星打ち上げ". The Mainichi Newspapers (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  3. ^ "KINDAI UNIVERSITY'S SPACETUNA1 HEADED TO ISS ONBOARD NG-18: THE S.S. SALLY RIDE". Spaceflight, Inc. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  4. ^ a b c "近畿大学とエクセディなど、超小型人工衛星を打ち上げ". The Nikkei (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  5. ^ Matsuoka, Tatsuro (January 31, 2015). "「マグロ大学って言うてるヤツ、誰や？」 強気の近大、有望な研究ごろごろ". SankeiBiz (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  6. ^ Kutsuzawa, Shinji (April 19, 2018). "近大、「宇宙マグロプロジェクト」始動 反射材を付けた生物に人工衛星からレーザーを照射し生態を調査". Netolabo (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  7. ^ "「天然マグロ」宇宙から追跡 人工衛星で生態調査". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). May 12, 2018. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  8. ^ a b "SpaceTuna1". NASA. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  9. ^ "近大生が組み立てた「宇宙マグロ1号」が宇宙へ". sorae (in Japanese). May 5, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  10. ^ a b c "超小型人工衛星打ち上げプロジェクト！近大生が組み立てた「宇宙マグロ1号」が宇宙へ" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). EXEDY Corporation. April 27, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "第5弾クラウドファンディング 天然マグロを未来に残せ！宇宙からの生態調査 「宇宙マグロ」プロジェクト -- 近畿大学" (Press release) (in Japanese). Kindai University. April 13, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "富山の技術、宇宙へ 日本カーバイド 近大と開発の反射シート実験 超小型衛星で年内に". The Toyama Shimbun (in Japanese). April 28, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-07.

External links

Japanese space program
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