This story isn’t a launch, but we wanted to tell you about it.

On June 22, 2021, at 10:55 UTC, MIR-Sat 1, the Mauritius Imaging and Radiotelecommunications Satellite, was deployed from the airlock in the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo, on the International Space Station. It is Mauritius’ first-ever smallsat and first solo satellite launch. The CubeSat was brought up inside the CRS-22 Cargo Dragon launched earlier this month. Kibo’s airlock can accommodate payloads up to about the size of a large storage bin you might have on your deck or patio.

The satellite or science experiment to be put on the Exposed Facility, a platform on Kibo with attachment fixtures for external payloads, is attached to a sliding arm inside Kibo, pushed into the airlock, and then into space once the inner hatch is closed. After the object is on the space side, it is removed with the remote manipulator arm. From there, it can be placed on the Exposed Facility or yeeted into free space. In this case, it was launched into space.

MIR-SAT 1 got its ride into space by winning the third KiboCube competition sponsored by JAXA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.

MIR-Sat 1’s primary mission is to demonstrate that Mauritius can build a satellite, including design, assembly, and testing. It has an RGB camera as well as a “V/U 9600bps GMSK digipeater”, which is a device used for amateur radio communications. The camera will be used to image Mauritius and its Exclusive Economic Zone to determine the best way to manage its ocean resources, mitigate natural disasters, and manage traffic.

More Information

MIR-SAT 1 to Deploy Tomorrow into Orbit from the ISS (Space in Africa)

MIR-SAT1-First Mauritian Infrared Satellite selected under the UNOOSA/ JAXA KiboCUBE 2018 Program (Mauritius Research Council)

Kibo Structure (JAXA)

MIR-Sat 1 info page (Gunter’s Space Page)

Yeet video