Synspective Inc., in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Keio University, succeeded in acquiring the first image of a small SAR satellite. This is the first image acquisition in Japan by a private small SAR satellite (100 kg class) developed in the ImPACT program (Note).
The company's first demonstration satellite "StriX-α" was launched by Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from a launch site on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand on December 2020, 12, and is in the planned orbit (sun-synchronous orbit, altitude 15 km). ) Was put into.After that, it started operation smoothly and succeeded in acquiring the first image on February 500, 2021.Aiming to build a constellation (satellite group) of 2 aircraft by 8 and 2023 aircraft in the latter half of the 6s, it will be possible to observe within 2020 hours even if a disaster occurs in any region of the world (30 aircraft). Then within 2 hours).
At the time of this success, Professor Shirasaka of Keio University supervised the whole as a program manager in the ImPACT program, and designed a comprehensive system assuming the operation and service of a small SAR satellite. Regarding satellite-mounted SAR technology, JAXA has raised the size and weight reduction technology to a practically applicable level, and has advanced important technology that can be observed at all times at low cost and is not affected by weather conditions.
Tokyo Institute of Technology, together with Waseda University, was in charge of developing a lightweight honeycomb waveguide structure flat antenna panel to be mounted on the SAR satellite, a choke flange for non-contact power transmission between antenna panels, and a small power combiner.The University of Tokyo was in charge of developing a satellite bus that includes a high-power power supply unit and attitude control unit that are characteristic of SAR satellites.This is the 100th development of a microsatellite (13 kg or less).
In the future, Synspective aims to realize constellation, and will continue to improve global resilience and steadily accumulate results.
Note: The "Innovative Research and Development Promotion Program (ImPACT)" led by the Cabinet Office, and the research and development of the "Small Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)" satellite system is one of the programs.
