Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Taiwan, Japan Partner to Develop Small Satellite

Taiwan and Japan are working together resolution optical remote sensors and Station in mid-2022 and be deployed at an
to develop a miniaturized satellite that optical-mechanical systems that would be orbital altitude of approximately 380km to
is scheduled to be launched into space installed on high-resolution optical remote 420km, Yu said. The University of Tokyo
in 2022 and would validate two key sensing satellites, Yu said. To make sure is in charge of the design of the CubeSat
technologies to be used in Taiwan’s space the two technologies can be used in space, itself, while the NSPO is designing the
program, a National Space Organization the NSPO partnered with the University remote sensors and optical mechanical
(NSPO) official said. The satellite, called of Tokyo to design the 6U Fast Validation systems. Two Japanese space service
the 6U Fast Validation CubeSat, is a joint CubeSat as a validation platform, Yu said. companies — Edge Lab Co Ltd. and Space
venture between the space organization The small, cost-effective satellites are BD — would be responsible for sending
and the University of Tokyo’s Department ideal for academic use, Yu said. The 6U, CubeSat into space, the NSPO added.
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, NSPO or “six units” CubeSat, is expected to be The NSPO has said that it also plans to
Deputy Director-General Yu Shiann-jen 36.6cm long, 22.6cm wide and 10cm high. sign memorandums of understanding
said. As part of the third phase of Taiwan’s The completed 6U CubeSat is scheduled with Czech institutions to conduct space
space program, it is designing high- to be launched to the International Space research.

Japan To Launch Satellite Made of Wood

Japan plans to orbit the world's first
artificial satellite made out of wood in an
out-of-the-box solution to the growing
problem of space junk that's making low
Earth orbit (LEO) a more dangerous place
for astronauts. This stunning concept was
announced by logging and construction
company Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto
University, Japan's second-oldest
university and famous for producing
world-class researchers. Japan's and the
world's first wood satellite has a tentative
launch date set for 2023. The partners said
they'll conduct research on using wooden
materials in space environments. This
project is part of their plan to promote
technologies using wood in extreme
environments on Earth and space. They'll attitude control mechanisms to be stored the presence of radiation and the vacuum
also conduct research on building wooden inside the wooden satellite's shell, allowing of space. Experts acknowledge the most
structures in space environments as a for a simpler structure. Also, when a important properties of any new material
first step to erecting future Japanese wooden satellite de-orbits and re-enters to be used in space are strength and
bases on the Moon or a space station in the Earth's atmosphere, it will burn-up stiffness. Some types of wood exhibit
Earth orbit. Sumitomo Forestry plans to completely compared to metal satellites, these properties on Earth, but engineering
develop wooden construction materials some of whose metal parts will survive wood to survive space is another matter
highly resistant to the elements, as well re-entry to strike the Earth's surface. On altogether. The wood to be developed by
as temperature changes and sunlight, to the other hand, a wooden satellite will be Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University
make these ambitious projects possible. destroyed by the fiery re-entry without will have to maintain its size and shape,
Choosing wood for a satellite's body comes releasing harmful substances into the or dimensional stability, despite extreme
with many advantages compared to using atmosphere. Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto temperature changes. Aluminum alloys,
aluminum, aluminum alloys, or kevlar. For University face almost insurmountable kevlar, and other materials used in space
one, wood doesn't block electromagnetic challenges in producing the special wood are among the most advanced materials
waves or the Earth's magnetic field, as capable of surviving space's extremely ever developed.
does aluminum. This advantage enables destructive environment. This means
satellite equipment such as antennas and their wood must remain stable despite

50 DECEMBER 2020