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AQT-D [University of Tokyo]
AQT-D (Aqua Thruster-Demonstrator) is a 3U Cubesat built the University of Tokyo as a demonstration of a water resistojet propulsion system.
AQT-D is composed of 1U propulsion system and 2U bus systems. The bus systems of AQT-D were designed and developed based on TRICOM-1R (Tasuki) which had been already launched and operated in 2017-2018. The propulsion system, named AQUARIUS-1U (AQUA ResIstojet propUlsion System), has one Delta-V-Thruster (F: < 4 mN) for an orbital maneuver and four Reaction-Control-Thruster (F: < 1 mN) for a reaction control. AQUARIUS-1U is a resistojet propulsion system consisting of a tank, a vaporization chamber and nozzles, using a water as a propellant (propellant mass: < 400 g). Water (H2O) enables ISS-deployed CubeSat to install a propulsion system. It is expected that the utilization of the ISS-deployed CubeSat expands drastically, because the propulsion system can lengthen its lifetime which is one of the bottlenecks of CubeSat in a low earth orbit.
The satellite was launched on board of HTV 8 to the ISS, where it was deployed on 20 November 2019.
| Nation: | Japan |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | University of Tokyo |
| Contractors: | University of Tokyo |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (3U) |
| Propulsion: | AQUARIUS-1U propulsion system |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: | 411 km Ũ 417 km, 51.64° |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQT-D | 1998-067QW | 24.09.2019 | Ta YLP-2 | H-2B-304 | with HTV 8, RWASAT 1, NARSScube 1 |
Launch Sites:
- Ta = Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Japan
References:
- Jun Asakawa, Kazuya Yaginuma, Yuichi Nakagawa, Yoshihiro Tsuruda: AQT-D: CubeSat Demonstration of a Water Propulsion System Deployed from ISS (abstract)
