NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2014-009H
Kagawa University's STARS 2 (Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite), also known as Kukai, consists of a Mother Satellite and a Daughter Satellite connected by a tether. It is an improved version of the STARS 1 spacecraft. The Mother Satellite (Ku) deploys the tether having the Daughter Satellite (Kai) at its end. Daughter Satellite has one arm, and the tether is attached at its end. Then attitude control by arm motion using tether tension is possible.
The main mission is to take pictures of a satellite during tether deployment. The objectives of the mission are that the Mother Satellite deploys tether having Daughter Satellite at its end; Daughter Satellite controls attitude of CCD camera by robot motion; Mother Satellite and Daughter Satellite communicate through Bluetooth. The Daughter Satellite takes pictures of the Mother Satellite, and transmittes these to ground stations through amateur radio frequency.
Launch Date: 2014-02-27
Launch Vehicle: H-2A
Launch Site: Tanegashima, Japan
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office