Tokyo 2020 “G-SATELLITE” carried to the International Space Station

The miniature “G-SATELLITE Go to Space” satellite has been deployed into space today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, USA.

The G-SATELLITE was installed in a Satellite Orbital Deployer by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and loaded into a Dragon cargo spacecraft. It is expected to arrive on 9 March at the International Space Station (ISS).

The satellite will initially dock on the ISS before it is released on its own orbit in late April 2020 and for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

NASA TV will broadcast the arrival and docking of the Dragon at the International Space Station at their site: https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv#public.

"G-SATELLITE Go to Space” satellite

The satellite will carry the miniature versions of "Mobile Suite Gundam” and “Char’s Zaku” – two of Japan’s most popular animated characters.

Measuring just 10cm x 10cm x 30cm, “Mobile Suite Gundam” and “Char’s Zaku” are part of the satellite’s mission to orbit the earth during the Tokyo 2020 Games. The eyes of the GUNDAM and ZAKU will glow on a white background in each of the colours of the five Olympic rings during the Olympic Games and three Agitos colours during the Paralympic Games and their heads will move.

The satellite will contain a number of small cameras which will record and transmit the character’s images. An electric bulletin board will also be deployed once the satellite is in orbit and will display messages about the Tokyo 2020 Games in English, French and Japanese. The exterior front surface of the satellite will be coloured gold, inspired by a gold medal, and will bear the words “G-SATELLITE TOKYO 2020”.

The G-SATELLITE was developed primarily by Tokyo University, and installed in a Satellite Orbital Deployer by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).