STARS-EC (Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite Elevator of CubeSat, COSPAR 1998-067SE, SATCAT 47928) was a
nanosatellite
A small satellite, miniaturized satellite, or smallsat is a satellite of low mass and size, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as "small", different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass. Satellites ca ...
developed by
Shizuoka University
is a national university in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Shizuoka University is well known in the field of engineering, in creative innovation, and in the invention of next generation technology, with the prestigious international exchange ...
, for the purpose of demonstrating space elevator tether technology. It was a 3U-size
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a class of miniaturized satellite based around a form factor consisting of cubes. CubeSats have a mass of no more than per unit, and often use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components for their electronics and structure. CubeSats ...
, and could split into three separate satellites, connected via tethers. STARS-EC was launched on 20 February 2021, and was deployed from the
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA ...
(ISS). The deployment service of STARS-EC was provided by Mitsui Bussan Aerospace.
The satellite decayed from orbit on 15 April 2022.
Mission
STARS-EC's mission was to demonstrate
space elevator
A space elevator, also referred to as a space bridge, star ladder, and orbital lift, is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system, often depicted in science fiction. The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) anc ...
tether technology using a 3U CubeSat. After deployment from the ISS, the satellite split into three separate spacecraft, each the size of a 1U CubeSat.
The spacecraft on each end was connected to the center satellite by an
space tether
Space tethers are long cables which can be used for propulsion, momentum exchange, stabilization and attitude control, or maintaining the relative positions of the components of a large dispersed satellite/spacecraft sensor system. Depending on t ...
, thus putting the satellites on the ends 22 m apart from one another.
The satellite in the center moved back and forth along the tether, demonstrating the orbital space elevator technology. Each spacecraft was equipped with a camera to monitor the elevator demonstration.
See also
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STARS
A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night, but their immense distances from Earth ma ...
*
STARS-II
Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite II or STARS-II, was a nanosatellite built by Japan's Kagawa University to test an electrodynamic tether in low Earth orbit, a follow-on to the STARS mission.
STARS-II was launched by an H-IIA rocket, fly ...
*
STARS-C
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OPUSAT-II
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RSP-01
*
WARP-01
References
External links
Official project site
STARS Space Service
Space elevator
Satellites of Japan
2021 in Japan
Spacecraft launched in 2021
Spacecraft which reentered in 2022
Satellites deployed from the International Space Station
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