Experiment

The Republic of Turkey hands over its CubeSat "UBAKUSAT" to Japan. Launch preparation starts. Scheduled to be deployment during Astronaut Kanai's stay onboard!

On February 23, 2018, a CubeSat developed by the Republic of Turkey was handed over to JAXA officials at JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in Ibaraki Pref., Japan, attended by people involved in the project. The CubeSat will undergo preparations to be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) where Astronaut Kanai is working onboard.

In September 2016, JAXA and the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications (MTMAC) concluded a cooperation agreement related to Kibo utilization for two long-term exposure experiments using the Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) installed on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) and one CubeSat deployment from Kibo. In accordance with the agreement, the CubeSat to be deployed was handed over to JAXA and will be delivered to the ISS onboard the SpaceX CRS-14 scheduled to be launched in April.

The CubeSat is currently being prepared for deployment during Astronaut Kanai's long-duration stay on the ISS. Sized 3 U, (approx.10 cm×10 cm×30 cm), Turkey's satellite (named "UBAKUSAT") is intended to contribute to the technological verification of newly developed VHF/UHF communications equipment (including a linear transponder for small satellites) and an experiment to verify the space radiation measuring technology. On February 23rd, officials of Istanbul Technical University, the proposer of the satellite mission, hand-carried the CubeSat to TKSC and ensured that the CubeSat was ready to be installed on J-SSOD.

Initiating the joint exposed experiment with the Republic of Turkey utilizing the Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM)

Turkey hands over samples to Japan for a space materials exposure experiment - Experiment to begin next spring on the exposed facility of "Kibo"!

Exterior of UBAKUSAT (Sized 3U)
(Credit: JAXA)

UBAKUSAT installed on J-SSOD
(Credit: JAXA)

Officials from Turkey received certificate of acceptance from JAXA officials (Credit: JAXA)
(From left, Mr. Mustafa Cumhur Ozkan (Second Secretary, Embassy of Turkey),
Prof. Alim Rustem Aslan (Istanbul Technical University), and two officials of JAXA)

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)