JAXA to launch a satellite to gather ocean observations for aquaculture
UMITRON in cooperation with the Tokyo Institute of Technology was selected for the 3rd JAXA Innovative Satellite Demonstration program to launch a small satellite in 2022 with the mission to gather ocean observations for aquaculture.
UMITRON in cooperation with research groups lead by Tokyo Institute of Technology has been selected for the 3rd innovative satellite demonstration program of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
A small satellite is planned to be launched in FY2022 with a mission to gather ocean observations for aquaculture. High-frequency and high-resolution observations of plankton and nutrient levels will be acquired to support the aquaculture industry including fish, shellfish and algae farmers.
Aquaculture including fish farming, shellfish farming, and seaweed farming has become a key component of the global food production system and it is an important industry for the supply of marine products to a variety of markets. On the other hand, the oceans are in a state of rapid environmental change. As the water quality changes, risks in aquaculture grow. For example, fish can be easily killed by red tide algae blooms and seaweed or shellfish growth can be inhibited by nutrient depletion. In order to reduce these risks and stabilize aquaculture production, information on the ocean environment such as the distribution of plankton and nutrients is critical for the industry.
UMITRON has been working with a research group led by the Tokyo Institute of Technology and it has been selected for a small satellite program supported by JAXA to launch a marine observation satellite for aquaculture in FY2022. UMITRON is in charge of demonstrating the use of satellite data in the aquaculture industry within this research group. A small satellite with the ability to gather high frequency and high resolution data enables the close observation of coastal areas which are a key area for aquaculture operations.
Members of this project and roles
- Tokyo Institute of Technology：Representative institution
- Nagoya University：Oceanography and remote sensing data analysis
- University of Tokyo：Data use in academic fields
- Tohoku University：Ground station network in satellite communications
- UMITRON：Data analysis and service demonstration for aquaculture industry
- Genesia：Observational instruments and multispectral cameras
- Diiway Space：Observational equipment and multispectral cameras
- inet：Satellite operation and system design
