RAIKO (satellite)

RAIKO (Japanese: 雷鼓, literally thunder drum) is a Japanese satellite which was built and operated by Tohoku and Wakayama Universities. A two-unit CubeSat, RAIKO was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 4 October 2012, having been launched on 21 July 2012.

RAIKO
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorTohoku University
Wakayama University
COSPAR ID2012-038B (1998-067CN)
SATCAT no.38852
Mission duration284 days (achieved)
100 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
ManufacturerTohoku University
Wakayama University
Launch mass2 kg (4.4 lb)
Dimensions10 cm x 10 cm x 20 cm (2U)
Start of mission
Launch date21 July 2012, 02:06:18 UTC [1]
RocketH-IIB F3
Launch siteTanegashima, Yoshinobu LC-Y2
ContractorMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Deployed fromISS Kibō
Delivered by Kounotori 3
Deployment date4 October 2012,
15:44:15.297 UTC
End of mission
Last contact15 July 2013
Decay date6 August 2013 [2]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit [2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.65°
 

RAIKO was launched aboard the Kounotori 3 (HTV-3) spacecraft,[3] atop an H-IIB launch vehicle flying from pad LC-Y2 of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch occurred at 02:06:18 UTC on 21 July 2012.[1] Four other CubeSats were launched with RAIKO; WE WISH, FITSAT-1, TechEdSat-1 and F-1. The five CubeSats was delivered to the International Space Station for deployment. CubeSats were deployed from Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibō via the J-SSOD system on 4 October 2012.[4][5]

Named after a Japanese god of thunder,[6] RAIKO is a 2 kg (4.4 lb) spacecraft, which was used for technology demonstration. It carries a camera with a fish-eye lens for Earth imaging,[7] a prototype star tracker, a deployable membrane to slow the satellite, lowering its orbit, a photographic system to measure the satellite's movement relative to the International Space Station, and a Ku-band antenna for communications and Doppler ranging experiments.[8]

WE WISH, RAIKO, FITSat 1, F-1, and TechEdSat-1 travelled to orbit aboard Kounotori 3 (HTV-3).[9]

References
  1. Bergin, Chris (20 July 2012). "Japanese H-IIB launches HTV-3 to the International Space Station". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. "Trajectory: Raiko 2012-038B". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2013. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Harwood, William (20 July 2012). "Japan successfully launches its freighter to space station". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. "2011年6月15日 ISSからの小型衛星放出実証ミッションに採択されました". Institute for Education in Space. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. 大塚実 (25 January 2012). "JAXA、宇宙ステーションから超小型衛星を放出できる装置をプレス公開" (in Japanese). mynavi.jp. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. "国際宇宙ステーション放出衛星「RAIKO」（雷鼓）". Tohoku University. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  7. "The development of a microsatellite (RAIKO) is completed and delivered to JAXA". Tohoku University. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. Krebs, Gunter (28 January 2020). "Raiko". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. WE WISH
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