Professor Kimihiro Nomi of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture) announced a space release plan for the mini space elevator satellite "STARS-Me (STARS-Mini elevator)". A press release was made at the Hamamatsu Campus on November 2017, 11.
The mini space elevator satellite "STARS-Me" is the successor to the first "Hagoromo" at Shizuoka University, which is in operation for the concept of a space elevator that transports people and things from the ground to space. "Hagoromo" is in the process of extending the cable used for the space elevator, and "STARS-Me" is a mechanism in which the elevator moves on the cable.
"STARS-Me" consists of two CubeSats (cube satellites with a side of 2 cm), two satellites connected to the tether in orbit are separated, and an ultra-small mobile robot (climber) is placed on the tether. Perform an experiment to move.
According to Professor Nomi, "It will be extremely small compared to the space elevator concept that connects the ground to space, but it is the world's first space experiment with an elevator."In addition, this experiment is not limited to space elevators, but also considers applications using space tethers, such as space debris removal.
In addition, "STARS-Me" is the third satellite of Shizuoka University, and in order to release it from the International Space Station to space in 3, we are currently in the process of releasing a contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Is going.
