AQT-D

AQT-D (Aqua Thruster-Demonstrator) is a nanosatellite project of the University of Tokyo (UT) Space Propulsion Laboratory with the purpose of testing water-fueled propulsion. The satellite is a CubeSat of 3U size; 1U is occupied by the propulsion system, while the remaining 2U is for the spacecraft bus.[1] AQT-D will be 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 Kibo laboratory module.[3]

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

Spacecraft

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

Propulsion
Water thrustersUnit/performance
PropellantWater
Thrust1 - 4 mN
Specific impulse>70 s
Water mass< 0.4 kg

AQT-D's propulsion system, called AQUARIUS-1U (Aqua Resistojet Propulsion System-1U), consists of five water thrusters. A single ΔV thruster produces 4.0 mN, and four reaction control thrusters 1.0 mN, for attitude control.[1][5] The spacecraft will carry less than 0.4 kg of water.[5] The ΔV thruster produces a specific impulse (Isp) of 70 s, and a maximum 4.0 mN of thrust, which is dependent on available power.[5] AQUARIUS-1U's design was based on the planned deep space probe EQUULEUS's propulsion system.[5] According to the University of Tokyo, AQT-D will be the first ISS-deployed satellite to have water-based propulsion.[1][5] 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.[5]

References
  1. "AQT-D: CubeSat Demonstration of a Water Propulsion System Deployed from ISS". ResearchGate. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  2. Werner, Debra (August 27, 2019). "Water propulsion technologies picking up steam". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  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 2019-09-11.
  5. 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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