Interim Report of Super Low Altitude Satellite Operation

Abstract

Super Low Altitude Test Satellite “SLATS” was launched in December 2017 and continues descending toward super low altitudes. We are challenging to expand our fields of space activities toward these altitudes almost never been used for long-life remote sensing so far. Super low Earth orbits provide new viewpoints for Earth observation, such as higher resolution imaging and less powerful Synthetic Aperture Rader (SAR) than before. SLATS is the first demonstrator of JAXA's Earth observation satellite to operate at super low altitudes using electric propulsion and to show the effects of altitude change by imagers.