The TuPOD has officially been deployed by the astronauts of the “Kibo” Experiment Module of the ISS on January 16, 2017 at 10:50GMT, as scheduled.
The astronauts manually set the launch of six small satellites that were transported to the ISS aboard the spacecraft “KOUNOTORI-6” last month, including the TuPOD. The astronauts accomplished the task using the deployment device JAXA “J-SSOD” (Small Satellites Orbital Deployer), specifically designed to release on orbit small satellites.
On its own orbit now, the TuPOD has another task in three and a half days, as it will release the two micro satellites that is carrying onboard, TANCREDO I and ONSAT.
The small satellites deployment has been broadcasted live and a member of GAUSS personnel, Marta Massimiani, attended both the streaming at JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) premises and the press conference that followed the deployment.
The successful mission marks a great example of both scientific advance and international cooperation.
GAUSS ground controllers have been preparing the ground station in order to be able to listen to the messages that TuPOD (and the two TubeSats) will transmit and collect data.
Personnel involved in the TuPOD mission watching the deployment broadcast live at the Tsukuba Space Center – Photo Credit: JAXA
Deployment of the TuPOD – Photo Credit: JAXA/NASA
TuPOD just released from the robotic arm of the ISS – Photo Credit ESA
TuPod once released in Space – Photo Credits ESA
Related news on the TuPOD deployment from the ISS
- Blogs.nasa.gov.: ISS On-Orbit Status Report
- JAXA News: Successful deployment of six CubeSats delivered by KOUNOTORI6
- Spaceflights News: Six CubeSat satellites deployed today from International Space Station