Experiment

Successful deployment of a CubeSat delivered by KOUNOTORI6

On December 19, 2016, at 5:50 p.m., a microsatellite named "STARS-C" was successfully deployed into orbit after being removed from the Japanese Experiment Module ("Kibo").

STARS-C deployed from J-SSOD (Credit: JAXA/NASA)

At the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), the personnel concerned from Shizuoka University monitored and applauded the successful deployment.

Concerned parties applauding successful deployment (Credit: JAXA)	JAXA Flight Control Team monitors the deployment (Credit: JAXA)

The STARS-C mission demonstrates tether extension technology in space by dividing the unit into two sub-units, with each being connected by tether (wire), and is one of the microsatellites selected among the Announcements of Opportunity (AO) in 2014 for deployment from Kibo in the Japanese fiscal year of 2016.

KOUNOTORI6 delivered seven CubeSats (including STARS-C) and an upgraded JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) featuring doubled deployment capacity at one time. Using this upgraded J-SSOD, the other six CubeSats will be deployed on January 16.

About CubeSats:

CubeSat is a microsatellite whose basic size is 10 cubic cm (called 1U), with 2U (20 cm in height) and 3U (30 cm in height) sizes also being available. JAXA's J-SSOD was made in compliance with the CubeSat specification and can deploy a total of 12U at one deployment opportunity. In the near future, the deployment capacity of J-SSOD will be upgraded up to 48U.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)