Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Japan Plans 5 Amateur Satellite Launches


The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced plans in late March to launch five satellites operating in the amateur bands … four of which are slated to be launched from the International Space Station. One of the satellites, named HORYU-2, was scheduled for a May 17 launch, so it may already be in orbit by the time you read this. The others, according to Newsline, are slated for a late July launch to the ISS, along with the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer, a device that will enable the launch of small satellites from the station's robotic arm. The satellites scheduled for that launch include two built in Japan - WE-WISH and FITSAT-1 - plus the TechEdSat from San Jose State University in California and the F-1 satellite, built in Vietnam. Initial plans call for all four to be launched from the JEM deployer in late September.