SPROUT [Nihon University]
SPROUT (Space Research On Unique Technology) is the second small sized satellite under development at Nihon University. The development of SPROUT began in the winter of 2005, as a successor of SEEDS.
SPROUT consists of a cubic main section that is 20 cm long per side, and a combined membrane structure section which is 1.5 m long. After reaching orbit, SPROUT will carry out several technological experiments at orbital altitudes of 600 km. It will verify the deployment of a membrane structure and test at the end of the mission the de-orbiting by utilizing air-resistance by using the deployed membrane structure. Additionally, earth imaging and amateur radio communications services by transmitting audio and visual data from space to earth's surface will be performed.
| Nation: | Japan |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | Nihon University |
| Contractors: | Nihon University |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 5 kg |
| Orbit: | 613 km × 628 km, 97.87ー |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPROUT | 2014-029E | 24.05.2014 | Ta YLP-1 | H-2A-202 | with ALOS 2, Rising 2, SOCRATES, UNIFORM 1 |