# Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite - Miniature Elevator

> Japanese tethered nano-satellite which reentered in 2021

**Wikidata**: [Q114812798](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114812798)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/space-tethered-autonomous-robotic-satellite-miniature-elevator

## Summary
The Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite - Miniature Elevator (STARS-Me) was a Japanese technology demonstration spacecraft and nanosatellite developed by Shizuoka University. It was a tethered satellite system designed as a 2-unit CubeSat to test robotic elevator concepts in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft launched in September 2018, deployed from the International Space Station in October 2018, and re-entered Earth's atmosphere in June 2021.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** A tethered satellite, technology demonstration spacecraft, nanosatellite, and 2-unit CubeSat.
- **Operator & Manufacturer:** Shizuoka University, a higher education institution in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
- **Launch Date:** September 22, 2018, at 17:52:27, launched via an H-IIB expendable launch system (Flight H-IIB-F7).
- **Deployment:** Deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 6, 2018.
- **Mass:** 2.42 kilograms.
- **Decay Date:** Atmospheric entry occurred on June 26, 2021.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1998-067PQ; NASA International Space Station Experiment ID 8208; Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 43640.
- **Aliases:** STARS-Me, STARS-Miniature Elevator, Tenryu, and STARS Mini-Elevator.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the STARS-Me satellite?
A: STARS-Me was a technology demonstration spacecraft designed to function as a tethered satellite. Its mission involved testing experimental technologies related to space tethers and robotics within a nanosatellite framework.

### Q: When did STARS-Me launch and how long was it in orbit?
A: The satellite launched on September 22, 2018, and re-entered the atmosphere on June 26, 2021, operating for nearly three years in low Earth orbit.

### Q: Who built and operated the STARS-Me satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured, owned, and operated by Shizuoka University in Japan.

## Why It Matters
STARS-Me represents a significant step in academic space exploration, specifically in the field of tethered space systems. As a "Miniature Elevator," it contributed to the engineering data required for future space elevator concepts, utilizing a tether connection between two satellite components. Weighing only 2.42 kg and adhering to the CubeSat standard (2 units), the mission demonstrated that complex tethered mechanics could be tested on a nanosatellite scale.

Launched by the H-IIB and deployed from the International Space Station, the mission highlights the accessibility of low Earth orbit for university-led technology demonstrations. The satellite's operational life of nearly three years provided valuable data on the durability and mechanics of tethered systems in the space environment before its atmospheric decay in 2021.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct "tethered satellite" system consisting of parts connected by a cable, a rarity for nanosatellites of this size.
- Serving as a "Miniature Elevator" technology demonstrator, directly referencing space elevator concepts.
- Being a university-class spacecraft (Shizuoka University) that successfully deployed from the International Space Station.
- Having multiple aliases, including "Tenryu."
- Operating as a 2U CubeSat with a specific mass of 2.42 kg.

## Body

### Development and Classification
The Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite - Miniature Elevator (often abbreviated as STARS-Me or Tenryu) was developed by Shizuoka University, Japan. It is classified as a former entity, a tethered satellite, a technology demonstration spacecraft, a nanosatellite, and a CubeSat.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was designed as a miniature satellite with a mass of 2.42 kilograms. Its volume was equivalent to 2 CubeSat units (2U). It utilized a tether system, defining it as an artificial satellite consisting of two parts connected by a cable.

### Mission History
The satellite was launched on September 22, 2018, at 17:52:27 from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex Launch Pad 2. It was carried into space aboard the H-IIB launch vehicle (specifically the H-IIB-F7 flight). Following the launch, STARS-Me was positioned at the International Space Station, from which it was deployed on October 6, 2018. The spacecraft operated in low Earth orbit until its atmospheric entry and subsequent decay on June 26, 2021.

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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/stars-me.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://stars.eng.shizuoka.ac.jp/starsme.html)