Australia's experimental FedSat micro-satellite will be launched free of charge by the Japanese National Space Development Agency (NASDA) in return for access to scientific data.
The satellite will be carried as a piggyback payload aboard an H-IIA rocket launch planned for the last quarter of next year, with a date to be finalised by the Japanese Government later this year. The same flight will carry Japan's Earth Observing Satellite-II, and WEOS and MicroLabSat satellites.
The deal follows a feasibility study conducted by the space authorities of Japan and Australia. The FedSat will be the third foreign satellite launched by NASDA.
The 58kg (130lb) FedSat will carry scientific, navigation and prototype UHF communications experiments. The spacecraft bus, produced by Space Innovations of the UK, will be delivered to Auspace in Canberra early next year for final assembly and integration.
Source: Flight International
