Japanese Satellite Startup Releases First Images From Polar Satellite
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/02/14/japanese-satellite-startup-releases-images-polar-satellite/
Japanese Satellite Startup Releases First Images From Polar Satellite
Posted by Doug Messier on February 14, 2014
A Japanese start-up company named Axelspace Corporation has released the first images from a commercial micro-satellite launched aboard a Dnepr rocket in November.
The WNISAT-1 weather satellite built in partnership with Weathernews, Inc. produces images of Arctic ice for the shipping industry. Warming temperatures in the area have opened up a northern sea routes during the summer months that cut significant time off of voyages.
Axelspace is a rare start-up entry in the Japanese aerospace market, which is dominated by large corporation. The five-year old company lists 13 employees on its website.
Later this year, the company plans to launch its Hodoyoshi-1 Earth observation satellite, which will produce multi-spectral images with the ground resolution of 6.7m (22ft). The 60 kg (132 lb) micro-satellite measures 60 cm (23.6 in).
The press release announcing the release of the first images from WNISAT-1 is below.
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