Abstract

This paper describes the on-orbit results of the advanced satellite technologies and the auroral observations performed by the small scientific satellite“Reimei”. Reimei was launched into a nearly sun synchronous polar orbit on Aug. 23rd, 2005 (UT) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan by a Dnepr rocket. The Reimei satellite has been working satisfactorily on orbit for 33 months as of May, 2008. The advanced satellite technologies at Reimei are a miniature space GPS receiver based on a carnavigation receiver, a solar concentrator paddle with thin-film reflectors, lithium-ion batteries etc. The miniature GPS receiver demonstrated the residual position errors of 1.5 meter. The solar concentrator paddles have been working for 29 months without power degradations. The auroral observations reveal new scientific results of auroral phenomena.