AQT-D (Aqua Thruster-Demonstrator) was a nanosatellite project of the University of Tokyo (UT) Space Propulsion Laboratory with the purpose of testing water-fueled propulsion. The satellite was a CubeSat of 3U size; 1U was occupied by the propulsion system, while the remaining 2U was for the spacecraft bus.[1] AQT-D was carried to space inside the pressurized section of Kounotori 8, a Japanese resupply vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS).[2] Kounotori 8 was launched on 24 September 2019. After arriving at the ISS, AQT-D was deployed to space on 20 November 2019 using the JEMRMS robotic arm at the space station's Kibō laboratory module.[3]

The AQT-D project was led by Jun Asakawa of the University of Tokyo.[4]

AQT-D reentered the atmosphere on 20 April 2022.[5]

Spacecraft

AQT-D's spacecraft bus was based on Tasuki (TRICOM-1R), a previous satellite developed by the University of Tokyo and launched in 2017.[1] The satellite was equipped with antennas for store and forward communication.[1]

Propulsion

Water thrustersUnit/performance
PropellantWater
Thrust1 of 4 mN
Specific impulse>70 seconds
Water mass< 0.4 kg

AQT-D's propulsion system, called AQUARIUS-1U (Aqua Resistojet Propulsion System-1U), consisted of five water thrusters. A single delta-v thruster produced 4.0 mN, and four reaction control thrusters 1.0 mN, for attitude control.[1][6] The spacecraft carried less than 0.4 kg of water.[6] The delta-v thruster produced a specific impulse (Isp) of 70 seconds, and a maximum 4.0 mN of thrust, which was dependent on available power.[6] AQUARIUS-1U's design was based on the planned deep space probe EQUULEUS's propulsion system.[6] According to the University of Tokyo, AQT-D was the first ISS-deployed satellite to have water-based propulsion.[1][6] While satellites deployed from the ISS typically have a short lifetime owing to the station's low altitude, satellites equipped with a propulsion system like AQT-D may potentially remain in orbit for an extended period of time.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "AQT-D: CubeSat Demonstration of a Water Propulsion System Deployed from ISS". Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  2. ↑ Werner, Debra (27 August 2019). "Water propulsion technologies picking up steam". SpaceNews. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  3. ↑ 「きぼう」から超小型衛星3機放出に成功！ (in Japanese). JAXA. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "Home | AQT-D: AQUA Thruster-Demonstrator". マイサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "AQT-D". N2YO.com. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 AQT-D: Demonstration of the Water Resistojet Propulsion System by the ISS-Deployed CubeSat (PDF). Small Satellite Conference. University of Tokyo. 2019.
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