[[Series 4: Introduction of the Current Status of Small Japanese Satellites Introduction of SOHLA]]

Report by Hideyuki Tanahashi, Senior Executive Director of the Group of Small- to Medium-sized Businesses in Osaka Prefecture

This is a collaborative project between industry, government and academia that originated in Higashi Osaka. It was led mainly by small- to medium-sized businesses in Osaka Prefecture, as they aimed to rejuvenate themselves.

We completed a flight model (see Figure 1) of SOHLA in FY2007 (April 2007 to March 2008) and we have finished conducting various system tests on the satellite, such as a vibration test. At present we are making final adjustments so that we can move it to a launch spot, and so that we can launch it in the best possible condition.
We firmly intend to make our project a successful one.

We think that we are at last approaching the launch day thanks to the support of JAXA and some universities.
We have been actively hoping that through the successful launch of the Japanese H-IIA rocket, our satellite's achievement will become the foundation for the space industry in Japan in the future.