Japan’s Research Institute Riken, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, and Nanoavionics collaborate

RIKEN, Japan’s largest comprehensive research institution, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, and mission integrator Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) have announced their collaboration on the astronomical NinjaSat1 X-ray observatory mission. The aim of this two-year mission in a low Earth orbit (LEO) is to observe X-ray photons from bright X-ray objects in the universe. The NinjaSat team aims to observe black holes and neutron stars that suddenly brighten in X-rays, and, coordinating with on-ground optical observatories, to study how matter accretes to these compact objects. As part of this mission, NanoAvionics has supplied its flight proven multi-purpose 6U M6P nanosatellite bus and integrated the science payloads developed by RIKEN and provided satellite testing services. www.nanoavionics.com