WARP-01

WARP-01, nicknamed Nichirin, was a 1U-sized CubeSat developed and operated by Warpspace, a newspace company based in Tsukuba, Japan. It was launched on 20 February 2021 on board a Cygnus cargo spacecraft, and deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 14 March 2021.^[1][2] WARP-01 was used for technology validation and monitoring the radio wave and radiation environment in space.^[3]

WARP-01

Mission type	Technology demonstration
Operator	Warpspace
COSPAR ID	1998-067SA
SATCAT no.	47924
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	CubeSat
Start of mission
Launch date	20 February 2021, 17:36:50 UTC
Rocket	Antares 230+
Launch site	MARS, Pad 0A
Deployed from	ISS Kibō Delivered by Cygnus NG-15
Deployment date	14 March 2021
End of mission
Decay date	1 May 2022
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Inclination	51.6°

Overview

WARP-01 was Warpspace's first satellite. The company signed a contract to deploy a satellite from the ISS's Kibo Module with Space BD on 24 August 2018.^[4] Inside the satellite were several wedding memorial plaques, which were sent to space as part of a 'space bridal service'.^[5] At the time the service was first announced in July 2018,^[6][7] media reports said that astronauts staying on the ISS were to take photographs of the satellite during its deployment.^[8] WARP-01 was unveiled during an event in Tsukuba city in February 2020.^[9] WARP-01 was launched and carried to space on board Cygnus NG-15. WARP-01 tested a radiation sensor, which was used to monitor the radiation environment in low Earth orbit.^[5]

WARP-01 decayed from orbit on 1 May 2022.^[10]

See also

• OPUSAT-II
• RSP-01
• STARS-EC