MMSAT-1

MMSAT-1 (also known as Lawkanat-1) was a Burmese microsatellite launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on 20 February 2021 and deployed into orbit from the ISS on 22 March 2021. It was Myanmar's first microsatellite and jointly built by Japan's Hokkaido University and Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University.^[5] It was delivered to the ISS by the American cargo spacecraft Cygnus NG-15. MMSAT-1 was temporarily held on ISS and its deployment was delayed due to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.^[5] It was deployed into orbit on 22 March 2021.^[3]

MMSAT-1 (Lawkanat-1)

Mission type	Earth Observation
Operator	Myanmar MAEU / Japan Hokkaido University
COSPAR ID	1998-067SJ
SATCAT no.	47976
Mission duration	2 years, 1 month and 14 days (final)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	Cygnus NG-15
Manufacturer	Japan Hokkaido University / Myanmar MAEU
BOL mass	50 kilograms (110 lb)
Dimensions	50 × 50 × 50 cm
Start of mission
Launch date	17:36:50, February 20, 2021 (2021-02-20T17:36:50)[1][2]
Rocket	Antares 230+
Launch site	MARS LP-0A
Deployed from	ISS
Deployment date	22 March 2021 (2021-03-22)[3]
End of mission
Decay date	4 April 2023
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee altitude	416 km[4]
Apogee altitude	421 km[4]
Inclination	51.6°[4]

MMSAT-1 was intended to be used not only for environmental observation and mineral exploration, but also for natural disaster control, but human rights activists worried that the satellite could be used for military purposes.^[6][5] According to Hokkaido University, as Myanmar did not yet have the necessary equipment, the satellite would initially be operated from Japan.^[7]

MMSAT-1 reentered the atmosphere on 4 April 2023.^[8]