BIRDS-3 satellite project including the first satellites of Sri Lanka and Nepal

Paper number

IAC-19,B4,6B,6,x50575

Author

Ms. Withanage Dulani Chamika, Japan, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Coauthor

Prof. Cho Mengu, Japan, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Coauthor

Mr. George Maeda, Japan, Kyushu Institue of Technology

Coauthor

Dr. Sangkyun Kim, Japan, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Coauthor

Dr. Hirokazu Masui, Japan, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Coauthor

Dr. Takashi Yamauchi, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Sanath Panawennage, Sri Lanka, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies

Coauthor

Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, Nepal, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)

Coauthor

Mr. BIRDS Partners, Japan, Kyushu Institute of Technology

Year

2019

Abstract

The Joint Global Multi-National Birds is also famous as BIRDS, is a multinational small satellite project lead by Kyushu Institute of Technology (Japan). BIRDS project gives opportunity to non-space fairing nations to design, integrate, build, test, launch and operate their nation’s first satellite. This paper focuses on BIRDS-3 which is the third batch under BIRDS project. BIRDS-3 is a constellation of three 1U cubesats belonging to Japan (Uguisu), Nepal (NepaliSat-1: Nepal’s first satellite) and Sri Lanka (Raavana-1: Sri Lanka’s first satellite).  BIRDS-3 has two members (students) from Nepal, three from Japan, and two from Sri Lanka and one from Bhutan. These students have been enrolled in Space Engineering International Course (SEIC) in Kyushu Institute of Technology. External dimensions of one satellite is 113.5mm x 100mm x 100mm and the weight is approximately 1.05kg.
This constellation will execute four missions: Imaging Mission (CAM), Attitude Determination and Control System mission(ADCS), LoRa Demonstration Mission (LDM), Software Configurable Backplane Board Mission (BPB). Currently satellite development is completed and all three satellites are delivered to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The launch is expected to be in mid of April 2019 and the deployment is expected to be completed in May 2019. After deployment satellites will be operated for 6-12 months through BIRDS ground station network. This paper shall describe the background, missions, stakeholders and initial operational results after the deployment from International Space Station (ISS).

Abstract document

IAC-19,B4,6B,6,x50575.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-19,B4,6B,6,x50575.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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