Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ Publications of the ...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/ar...
Article . 2024
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 3 versions
addClaim

NinjaSat: Astronomical X-ray CubeSat observatory

Authors: Toru Tamagawa; Teruaki Enoto; Takao Kitaguchi; Wataru Iwakiri; Yo Kato; Masaki Numazawa; Tatehiro Mihara; +18 Authors

NinjaSat: Astronomical X-ray CubeSat observatory

Abstract

Abstract NinjaSat is an X-ray CubeSat designed for agile, long-term continuous observations of bright X-ray sources, with the size of 6U ($112.7\times 237.1\times 340.5$ mm3) and a mass of 8 kg. NinjaSat is capable of pointing at X-ray sources with an accuracy of less than $0.^{\!\!\!\circ }1$ ($2\sigma$ confidence level) with three-axis attitude control. The satellite bus is a commercially available NanoAvionics M6P, equipped with two non-imaging gas X-ray detectors covering an energy range of 2–50 keV. A total effective area of 32 cm2 at 6 keV is capable of observing X-ray sources with a flux of approximately $10^{-10}$ erg cm−2 s−1. The arrival time of each photon can be tagged with a time resolution of $61\, \mu$s. The two radiation belt monitors continuously measure the fluxes of protons above 5 MeV and electrons above 200 keV trapped in the geomagnetic field, alerting the X-ray detectors when the flux exceeds a threshold. The NinjaSat project started in 2020. Fabrication of the scientific payloads was completed in 2022 August, and satellite integration and tests were completed in 2023 July. NinjaSat was launched into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of about 530 km on 2023 November 11 by the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission. After about three months of satellite commissioning and payload verification, we observed the Crab Nebula on 2024 February 9 and successfully detected the 33.8262 ms pulsation from the neutron star. With this observation, NinjaSat met the minimum success criterion and stepped forward to scientific observations as initially planned. By the end of 2024 November, we successfully observed 21 X-ray sources using NinjaSat. This achievement demonstrates that, with careful target selection, we can conduct scientific observations effectively using CubeSats, contributing to time-domain astronomy.

Keywords

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE), Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, FOS: Physical sciences, Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    5
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
5
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%
Green
hybrid