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STARS (KUKAI) (33498)
COSPAR: 2009-002G | Alt Name: Kukai
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
January 23, 2009
Launch Site
TANSC
Launch Pad
Y
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 202
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
33498
International Designator
2009-002G
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:24:52 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
98.16°
Right Ascension
132.80°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
111.06°
Period
96.27 min
Mean Motion
14.96 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
STARS (KUKAI)
Alternative Name
Kukai
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
KAGA
Country
Japan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 33498U 09002G 26184.80893888 .00005386 00000-0 48681-3 0 9993
2 33498 98.1560 132.7971 0010292 111.0617 249.1704 14.95867721940964
Source: Celestrak
Summary
STARS (KUKAI), designated as 2009-002G with NORAD catalog ID 33498, is a technology demonstration satellite launched on January 23, 2009, from the Tanegashima Space Center using an H-IIA 202 launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 0.253 meters in length and 0.16 meters in diameter, with a span of 1 meter. Weighing 4 kilograms both at launch and dry mass, it was manufactured by KAGA for technology demonstration purposes. STARS (KUKAI) is powered by two deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries. The satellite's shape consists of two boxes connected via a tether, with a radar cross-section of 0.124 square meters.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.253
Diameter
0.16
Span
1
Dry Mass
4
Launch Mass
4
Shape
2 Box + Tether
Radar Cross Section
0.124
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
STARS-1 Mother
Purpose
Technology
Mission
Technology
Manufacturer
KAGA
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
STARS-1
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
None
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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