Session
Weekend Session 4: Next on the Pad - Research & Academia
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
NinjaSat is a 6U CubeSat observatory designed for long-term monitoring of bright X-ray sources, such as binary systems between normal stars and black holes or neutron stars. NinjaSat is the first Japanese CubeSat dedicated to astronomical observation, and it is also a mission to demonstrate that even a small satellite, which can be developed quickly and inexpensively, unlike large satellites, can perform excellent scientific observations. NinjaSat realizes the world’s highest X-ray sensitivity in CubeSat missions by using gas X-ray detectors filling the entire space allocated for science payloads. The fabrication of the flight model payloads began in 2021, and testing at the payload component level was completed in August 2022; as of April 2023, the payloads were integrated into the Nano Avionics 6U bus (M6P) in Lithuania. After four months of testing, the payload will be stored in the Exolaunch deployer in August and launched by the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission in October 2023. This paper will describe the scientific objectives, satellite structure, payloads, and operations of NinjaSat.
NinjaSat: 6U CubeSat Observatory for Bright X-Ray Sources
Utah State University, Logan, UT
NinjaSat is a 6U CubeSat observatory designed for long-term monitoring of bright X-ray sources, such as binary systems between normal stars and black holes or neutron stars. NinjaSat is the first Japanese CubeSat dedicated to astronomical observation, and it is also a mission to demonstrate that even a small satellite, which can be developed quickly and inexpensively, unlike large satellites, can perform excellent scientific observations. NinjaSat realizes the world’s highest X-ray sensitivity in CubeSat missions by using gas X-ray detectors filling the entire space allocated for science payloads. The fabrication of the flight model payloads began in 2021, and testing at the payload component level was completed in August 2022; as of April 2023, the payloads were integrated into the Nano Avionics 6U bus (M6P) in Lithuania. After four months of testing, the payload will be stored in the Exolaunch deployer in August and launched by the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission in October 2023. This paper will describe the scientific objectives, satellite structure, payloads, and operations of NinjaSat.
