RAISE-4

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RAISE-4 (RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-4) is a smallsat for technology demonstration developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Part of the Japanese space agency JAXA's Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program, RAISE-4 carries multiple technologies that were selected for in-orbit demonstration. RAISE-4 is planned to be launched on a dedicated Electron rocket flight, 'Raise And Shine' in December 2025. [1]

Contents

Overview

RAISE-4 is a reflight of the RAISE-3 satellite which was launched by an Epsilon rocket on 12 October 2022 but failed to reach orbit. As with RAISE-3, RAISE-4 was developed by MHI, the prime contractor of Japan's H-IIA and H3 rockets. MHI also previously developed Z-Sat, a satellite launched in 2021 as part of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-2 mission. [2] While in orbit, RAISE-4 will be operated from MHI's Nagoya Guidance & Propulsion Systems Works plant in Komaki, Aichi. [2]

The satellite carries eight of the 16 themes that will be tested in Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4. Among them, five are reflights from RAISE-3, one (KIR-X) has its design modified from RAISE-3, and two (CF-CAM and AIRIS) were newly selected to be flown on RAISE-4. [3]

Technologies

Eight technologies will be tested on board RAISE-4.

GEMINI

GEMINI, developed by Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) is a device that includes a commercial off-the-shelf graphics processing unit (COTS GPU). GEMINI has SAR images preinstalled to replicate a typical Earth observation satellite, and the GPU will format and process the image in orbit before sending it to a ground station. [4] The main goal of GEMINI is to test how a consumer-grade GPU performs in space. [5] During development, recently recruited engineers at MELCO were charged with the designing and testing of the device. [5]

D-SAIL

D-SAIL is a deployable sail that uses its large surface area to generate friction with the atmosphere and decrease the orbital speed of the satellite, which allows it to lower altitude, ultimately leading to the satellite's deorbiting and entering Earth's atmosphere. [6] D-SAIL was developed by Axelspace Corporation  [ ja ].

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rocket Lab Secures Multiple Launches with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)" (Press release). Rocket Lab. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "実証テーマ提案者の熱い思いに応えたい" (in Japanese). JAXA . Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  3. ↑ "「革新的衛星技術実証4号機のテーマ公募」追加選定結果について" (Press release) (in Japanese). JAXA. February 8, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ Nakamura, Shohei (15 February 2022). "SARセンサの開発方向性について" (PDF) (in Japanese). UTokyo-JAXA Center for Frontier Astronautics. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  5. 1 2 "民生用GPUを活用し軌道上でのデータ処理実現を目指す" (in Japanese). JAXA . Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  6. ↑ "宇宙空間で膜を展開し、大気抵抗を用いたデオービット機構を実証する" (in Japanese). JAXA . Retrieved 2022-10-05.
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