SOHLA-1 - A Low cost satellite development with technology transfer program of JAXA
- Paper number
IAC-05-B5.6.B.08
- Author
Dr. Yosuke Nakamura, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (IAT/JAXA), Japan
- Coauthor
Mr. Hidekazu Hashimoto, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan
- Year
2005
- Abstract
A 50kg class small spin-stabilized satellite developed by JAXA called "MicroLabSat" was launched as a piggyback satellite of Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEOS-II) by H-IIA rocket No.4 on 14 December 2002. Objectives of the satellite is demonstration of small satellite bus technology, new separator feasibility experiment and remote inspection technology experiment, and all missions were completed successfully on 25 May 2003. Furthermore, the handmade manufacturing by young engineers at JAXA was contributable to promoting higher performance as engineers on learning design, assembly and testing technology. On the other hands, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local universities have associated in several regions to develop small satellites recently in Japan. In HIGASHI-OSAKA city, one such project was initiated in 2003. In this case, the SME union forms the core of the project team. The goal of the project is commercialization of the small satellites, and for its realization, lowering the cost of satellites is necessary. Therefore, the SME union started to develop their first satellite called "SOHLA-1" which utilized the components and bus technologies of the MicroLabSat since 2004. In the development, JAXA and universities support the SME union's engineers and they will acquire basic technologies through development and operation of the satellite. This project, in which Industry, University and Space Agency are collaborated, is the challenging attempt on development of a low cost satellite with new approach. Objectives of this technology transfer program for JAXA are to expand the space development community in Japan and to establish a low-cost standard spin-stabilized satellite bus reusing the same design. Expanding the space development community is supposed to realize "A lot of idea \& natural selection" circumstance. It broadens the number of options in space development. Standardizing and reusing satellite bus enables spacecraft to lower the cost and to obtain high reliability. Furthermore, this low-cost reliable satellite is suitable for demonstration of components for next generation advanced spacecraft bus. There are three levels of adopting the technology transfer program. The first level is just to supply components or software. The second level is to show spacecraft design data. The third level is to instruct spacecraft system design and development process. The later level is more important for both JAXA and its partner, and in the program, we are trying to share the process of design and development assuming that experience is the fastest way to learn. In the paper, the strategy of small satellite program in JAXA and result of development and operation of MicroLabSat are reported briefly. Then, the overview of the Industry, University and Space Agency's collaborative project and the current status of detailed design of the SOHLA-1 are introduced clarifying how and where the technologies of the MicroLabSat are applied. And finally, the effectiveness of the JAXA's technology transfer program is discussed verifying its development cost.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-B5.6.B.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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