ESA Reveals JAXA's Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4)

On Jan. 10, the Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4) was shown to the media at the Tsukuba Space Centre.

The SDS-4 is a tiny 50-cm cubic satellite, and it will be launched as a piggyback payload with the Global Change Observation Mission 1st- Water "SHIZUKU"in Japan Fiscal Year 2012.

Background
 JAXA has been promoting the Small Demonstration Satellite (SDS) program in order to verify new technologies for components and devices in space prior to providing highly established technology to practical satellites and scientific probes.

An SDS can be developed in a shorter period of time with lower costs compared to a large-size satellite, thus it has an advantage to carry out on-orbit verification and experiments in a timely manner.

In addition, we can also foster younger employees by offering them opportunities to experience an overall series of work from a design phase thru satellite operation in space.

The first SDS (SDS-1), which was about 100 kgs, was launched on January 23, 2009. The SDS-4 project aims to develop a 50-kg class satellite, which is a standard size for a companion payload on the H-IIA Launch Vehicle, and the satellite is scheduled to be launched with the SHIZUKU (Global Change Observation Mission 1st – Water, GCOM-W1) as a piggyback payload.