HORYU-IV was successfully launched on 17 Feb. 2016 (5:45 PM JST) from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center on a H-2A Rocket

Meanwhile, at the Tobata Campus of Kyutech (Kyushu Institute of Technology), there was a public viewing of the launch.

A crowd starts to gather at the Nakamura Memorial Hall of Kyutech .

A model of HORYU-IV is displayed (on the table).

Prof. Cho

Pauline Faure

Prof. Cho and Pauline Faure explains things to the gathered audience, about half an hour before launch time. Prof. Cho is the project PI, while Ms. Faure (from France) is the project manager.

After launch, the JAXA website shows the progress of the rocket into outer space.

Many students of SEIC came to this public viewing.

About half an hour after the successful rocket launch, the crowd moved over to the location of the HORYU-IV ground station (in the same building where LaSEINE laboratory is located). Here, we waited for the first signal from the satellite, the indication that the satellite is alive and well after being placed into space orbit.

Mr Benjamin Bonsu (Ghana) at his post.

Tracking the satellite as it zooms over the Pacific Ocean and South America.

Cameras of local TV stations record the excitement.

Prof. Cho looks over the entire ground station operation.

Note: There was a very good turnout of local mass media, both print and television.

The Project Team

An interdisciplinary and international semi-pro team:

HORYU-IV Team is composed of a total of 47 members including faculty from the Laboratory of Spacecraft Environment Interaction Engineering, researchers, contractor, and students. Among the 47 members, there are 30 students and 17 faculty and staff. The team particularities are its international and interdisciplinary dimensions. All members included, there are 18 countries represented in the team and students major encompasses 4 different fields of engineering: integrated system, electrical and electronic, mechanical and control, and civil and architectural engineering.