Orbiting Binary Black Hole Investigation Satellite

Orbiting Binary Black Hole Investigation Satellite
(ORBIS)
Mission typeAstrophysics
OperatorTokyo Metropolitan University
Websitewww.comp.sd.tmu.ac.jp/ssl/orbis/Top.html
Mission duration1.5 years (planned)[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typemicrosatellite
Launch mass46 kg[2]
Dimensions46 ×46 ×44 cm [2]
Power78 W[3] (solar panels)
Start of mission
Launch date?
Orbital parameters
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Periapsis altitude550 km [2]
Apoapsis altitude550 km
Inclination3° [2]
Period96 min [2]
Epochplanned
Main X-ray astronomy
Focal length20 cm (7.9 in)[2]
WavelengthsX-ray
Transponders
BandS band[1]

Orbiting Binary Black Hole Investigation Satellite (ORBIS) is a small space telescope still in development by Japan that will study binary black holes in the X-ray region.

The ORBIS concept won the first prize at the 18th Satellite Design Contest in 2010,[3] and of 2015 it was on preliminary design and undergoing thermal simulations by the Tokyo Metropolitan University[3][4] with support from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS).[3][1][2]

The spacecraft will have a mass of about 46 kg and it features a propulsion system using 60 wt% hydrogen peroxide.[1] Launch was aimed for 2020.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b c d Report on the current state of "Japanese Micro/Nano/Pico-satellite Projects". (PDF). page 61; University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC). July 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g ORBIS - Orbiting Binary black-hole Investigation Satellite. (PDF). Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and ISAS
  3. ^ a b c d Development of Binary Black Hole Observation Satellite "ORBIS". (PDF). Kentaro Nishi, Tokyo Metropolitan University. 20 November 2013.
  4. ^ Tokyo Metropolitan University - ORBIS. 2017
  5. ^ [1] (in Japanese)
  6. ^ [2] (in Japanese)
  7. ^ [3] (in Japanese)