Leopard
Students from 17 countries gathered to build the LEOPARD nanosatellite. Kyushu Institute of Technology and Nanyang Technological University led this joint development effort. The satellite measures just 10cm by 10cm by 30cm, fitting a standard 3U CubeSat form factor. This international team worked together to integrate multiple complex systems into such a small frame. Their collaboration spanned continents and time zones to meet the launch deadline.
The LEOPARD satellite launched on the 26th of October 2025 aboard an H3 Launch Vehicle. It traveled to the International Space Station inside the HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft. Mission controllers will deploy the unit from the Kibō module of the ISS. This specific deployment method ensures precise release conditions for the small satellite. The timing of the launch allowed the vehicle to reach its target orbit efficiently.
Engineers chose shape-memory alloy heating systems to deploy solar panels instead of traditional springs. This decision created a much thinner deployment mechanism suitable for the compact 3U design. The SMA material expands or changes shape when heated to power the panel extension. Traditional spring mechanisms would have required more internal volume within the small chassis. This engineering choice maximized available space for other critical payloads.
Nanyang Technological University developed the Single-Event Latch-up mission payload to monitor ionizing space radiation. The payload contains two microcontrollers with identical functions but different chip types. One uses radiation-hardened microchips while the other relies on commercial off-the-shelf components. Researchers compare how these chips react when exposed to single-event effects in space. This comparison helps determine the reliability of standard electronics in harsh orbital environments.
The Multispectral camera mission photographs Earth's atmosphere when the Sun sits below the horizon. LEOPARD observes Rayleigh scattering and aerosol scattering through this unique lighting condition. The payload includes both an RGB camera and a near-infrared camera for detailed analysis. Attitude control systems point the cameras precisely toward the atmospheric layers during observation windows. These images provide data on atmospheric composition that is difficult to capture from ground stations.
Multiple Earth-based parabolic antennas send synchronized signals to the satellite in the S band. Each antenna measures a few meters in size and operates within a predetermined time epoch. The OPERA device tracks the arrival time and Doppler shift of these incoming radio waves. By calculating relative time delays, the system estimates its own position without global navigation satellites. This technology aims to achieve positioning accuracy within a few kilometers using only ground infrastructure.
Common questions
Who built the LEOPARD nanosatellite?
Students from 17 countries gathered to build the LEOPARD nanosatellite. Kyushu Institute of Technology and Nanyang Technological University led this joint development effort.
When did the LEOPARD satellite launch into space?
The LEOPARD satellite launched on the 26th of October 2025 aboard an H3 Launch Vehicle. It traveled to the International Space Station inside the HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft before deployment from the Kibō module.
What technology does the LEOPARD satellite use for solar panel deployment?
Engineers chose shape-memory alloy heating systems to deploy solar panels instead of traditional springs. This decision created a much thinner deployment mechanism suitable for the compact 3U design.
How does the Single-Event Latch-up payload on LEOPARD function?
Nanyang Technological University developed the Single-Event Latch-up mission payload to monitor ionizing space radiation. The payload contains two microcontrollers with identical functions but different chip types to compare reactions when exposed to single-event effects in space.
Why does the LEOPARD satellite photograph Earth's atmosphere below the horizon?
The Multispectral camera mission photographs Earth's atmosphere when the Sun sits below the horizon to observe Rayleigh scattering and aerosol scattering through this unique lighting condition. These images provide data on atmospheric composition that is difficult to capture from ground stations.