Orbit Verification Results of the De-Orbit Mechanism Demonstration CubeSat FREEDOM

Abstract

Nakashimada Engineering Works, Ltd. and Tohoku University have developed a 1U-size CubeSat “FREEDOM”. The mission of FREEDOM is to demonstrate a thin film deployment mechanism called the De-Orbit Mechanism (DOM) for space debris prevention, and includes deployment of the thin film, early de-orbiting, and tracking of its orbit transition. FREEDOM was released into low Earth orbit from the International Space Station using the robotic arm of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on January 16, 2017. The initial altitude of FREEDOM was approximately 410 km. The transition of the orbit of FREEDOM was monitored by obtaining the publicly available two line elements. FREEDOM fell below an altitude of 250 km on February 6, 2017 and is considered to have re-entered into the Earth atmosphere approximately one day later. FREEDOM stayed in orbit approximately 22 days. This result agrees with the numerical estimates and proves that FREEDOM succeeded in the deployment of the film and early de-orbiting.