IHI-SAT
First satellite built by IHI Corporation.
IHI-SAT was a 3U CubeSat developed by IHI Corporation and the Tohoku University Space Robotics Laboratory. It was designed to test an automatic identification system (AIS) receiving system in space. The satellite was IHI Corporation's first satellite.
Quick Facts
- Mission type
- technology demonstration
- Operator
- IHI Corporation
- Spacecraft type
- CubeSat
- Launched
- 19 February 2022
- Launch rocket
- Antares 230+
- Launch site
- MARS, Pad 0A
- Deployment from
- ISS Kibō, Delivered by Cygnus NG-17
- Deployment date
- 24 March 2022
Facts from the source article.
Overview
IHI Corporation had built propulsion systems for many satellites and JAXA's Epsilon rocket, but never a complete satellite until IHI-SAT. This first satellite tested an AIS receiver and underwent ground testing at the Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 November 2022. Following IHI-SAT, the company signed a May 2025 memorandum with ICEYE to manufacture synthetic-aperture radar satellites for a constellation, and a September 2025 agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology.
Spacecraft
IHI-SAT was a 3U CubeSat carrying an AIS receiver developed with Meisei Electric. It included a self-diagnosis function and multiple recovery methods. Three-axis attitude control used a GomSpace microcomputer with gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor, three reaction wheels from CubeSpace, and three magnetic torquers from NanoAvionics. Sun sensors were attached on all sides. The satellite oriented its receiving antenna constantly downward toward the sea to maximize AIS data collection. According to ASTEC, it likely had a VHF dipole antenna.
More in Satellites Deployed from the International Space Station
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced