The goal of the Akatsuki (PLANET-C), a Venus explorer, is to unravel the mysteries of the atmosphere on Venus using Japan’s planetary exploration plan, following Nozomi (PLANET-B), a Mars explorer. The explorer has five cameras that photograph the atmosphere on Venus using infrared, visible light and ultraviolet light. It is also equipped with a radio oscillator to observe vertical distribution, including of temperatures. The explorer will investigate the atmospheric flow and composition, and whether there is lighting or volcanic activity, while making an elliptical orbit around Venus about once every 10 days.
On May 21, 2010, the Akatsuki was launched using a H-IIA rocket-17. In addition to JAXA’s IKAROS, a small solar power sail demonstrator, four other satellites were also piggy backed onto the rocket (UNITEC-1 was be put into parking orbit around Venus and three other satellites were put into orbit around the Earth).

UNITEC-1/University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC)

Mission:
1. Experiment on receiving and decoding weak transmissions from deep space jointly with the amateur radio operator community, in the form of a competition to see who will survive last by carrying out a demonstration of a university-developed space computer while in orbit
2. Space outreach through the above
3. Science and engineering mission in deep space (option)
UNITEC-1

WASEDA-SAT2/Waseda University

Mission:
1. Experiment photographing a QR code
2. Provide images to students, etc.
3. Posture stability by deploying a panel
Waseda Satellite Project

Atmospheric water vapor measurements satellite (KSAT2)/Kagoshima University

Mission:
1. Atmospheric water vapor distribution observation experiment aimed at forecasting torrential rain
2. Taking videos of the Earth using microwave band high-speed communication
3. Experiment of communication basics for ultra-compact positioning satellites

Negai☆″/Soka University

Mission:
1.Wishing on a falling star☆″—Satellite supporting the future of our children
2. Demonstration in space of an advanced information processing system using a consumer FPGA

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