{{Short description|Japanese technology demonstration satellite}} {{Use American English|date=November 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = PETREL | names_list = Platform for Extra and Terrestrial Remote Examination with LCTF | operator = Tokyo Institute of Technology | manufacturer = Tokyo Institute of Technology | launch_date = 2026 | launch_rocket = H3-30 | launch_site = Tanegashima Space Center | launch_contractor = JAXA | orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit (planned) | orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit | apsis = gee | instruments = Multispectral cameras | programme = Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program }}
'''PETREL''' ('''Platform for Extra and Terrestrial Remote Examination with LCTF''') is a technology demonstration satellite being developed by Tokyo Institute of Technology. The microsatellite is equipped with a multispectral camera, which will be used to carry out two distinct missions. One mission is to survey the sky in ultraviolet wavelengths for the field of time-domain astronomy, and the other is to conduct spectroscopic observations of the Earth.<ref name="UMITSUBAME2">{{cite web|url=http://www.hp.phys.titech.ac.jp/umitsubame/index2.html|title=About This Project|language=ja|publisher=Tokyo Institute of Technology|access-date=2021-11-04}}</ref>
PETREL was originally planned to be launched on a Epsilon rocket flight in 2022 along with the rest of JAXA's Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3 mission satellites, but was not launched. As of September 2024, PETREL was scheduled to be launched during fiscal year 2025 on the first H3-30 test flight.<ref name="mext-20240927">{{cite web |url=https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20240927-mxt_uchukai01-000038107_3.pdf |title=H3ロケット30形態試験機の打上げ計画及び超小型衛星相乗りの実施について |trans-title=Launch plan for H3-30 rocket configuration test vehicle and piggybacking of ultra-small satellites |work=MEXT |date=27 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024 |language=ja}}</ref> The launch was later moved to 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H3-30 Test Flight {{!}} H3-30S {{!}} Next Spaceflight |url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7644/ |access-date=2026-01-03 |website=nextspaceflight.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Overview== PETREL's role differs depending on its position in orbit: while inside Earth's shadow it will conduct astronomical observations, and while outside it will function as an Earth observation satellite.<ref name="UMITSUBAME2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://p-006.space.koudaisai.jp/2021/09/01/%e8%a1%9b%e6%98%9f%e5%81%b4%e3%81%ae%e3%83%9a%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b8/|language=ja|title=超小型衛星による宇宙科学|publisher=Tokyo Institute of Technology|access-date=2021-11-04|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103235746/https://p-006.space.koudaisai.jp/2021/09/01/%E8%A1%9B%E6%98%9F%E5%81%B4%E3%81%AE%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
PETREL will conduct wide field observations in ultraviolet, which will work in tandem with ground-based observatories to study time-domain multi-messenger astronomy. PETREL is a pathfinder for the ULTRASAT mission.<ref name="heapa">{{cite web |url=https://heapa.isas.jaxa.jp/activity/2021/%E9%AB%98%E5%AE%87%E9%80%A3%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E6%9C%9F%E5%B0%86%E6%9D%A5%E6%A4%9C%E8%A8%8E%E5%A7%94%E5%93%A1%E4%BC%9A%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A%E6%9B%B8.pdf#page=30|title=日本が関与する飛翔体を用いた高エネルギー天体物理学のロードマップ検討まとめ|language=ja|publisher=High Energy AstroPhysics Association in Japan|date=30 January 2021|access-date=2021-11-04}}</ref>
As an Earth observation satellite, PETREL will perform multispectral observation of both the land and seas to acquire data for use in agriculture and aquaculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://p-006.space.koudaisai.jp/2021/09/01/%e8%a1%9b%e6%98%9f%e5%81%b4%e3%81%ae%e3%83%9a%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b8/|title="PETREL" a small satellite project of JAXA's Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration program|language=ja|publisher=Tokyo Institute of Technology|access-date=2021-11-04|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103235746/https://p-006.space.koudaisai.jp/2021/09/01/%E8%A1%9B%E6%98%9F%E5%81%B4%E3%81%AE%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8/|url-status=dead}}</ref> PETREL's ocean observation will measure the level of plankton and nutrients in the waters, which the aquaculture industry will utilize to help ensure a stable amount of catches.<ref name="UMITRON2020">{{cite press release|title=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|url=https://pr-en.umitron.com/post/621869854921719808/aquaculturesatellite |publisher=Umitron|date=June 25, 2020|access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Spaceflight}} * {{annotated link|HIBARI (satellite)}} * {{annotated link|Odin (satellite)}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.hp.phys.titech.ac.jp/umitsubame/index.html Project PETREL] - Tokyo Institute of Technology * [https://www.kenkai.jaxa.jp/kakushin/kakushin03.html#petrel PETREL]
{{Space observatories}} {{Future spaceflights}} Category:Proposed spacecraft Category:Earth observation satellites of Japan Category:Institute of Science Tokyo Category:Space telescopes Category:Ultraviolet telescopes Category:2026 in spaceflight