YES2 congratulates the T-REX team on the first ever deployment of an electrodynamic tape tether

Today a 300 m electrodynamic bare tape tether "T-REX" was successfully deployed from the Japanese S-520 sounding rocket by the Tokyo Metropolitan University team of Prof. Fujii in cooperation with JAXA. T-REX is the first tether of its kind in space. Such a tether can provide electrodynamic thrust to satellites without the need of propellant (like a ship sailing the magnetic field of the Earth). It could be used for example to sail through space around Earth in order to connect to and deorbit pieces of space debris (EDDE concept), or to launch whole (micro) satellite constellations on a single rocket, or to keep the Space Station in orbit in a green manner without the need for (expensive) rocket fuel. T-REX and YES2 were mutually co-operative, complementary and cross-fertilizing educational and hands-on space tether projects with a joint history dating back to YES1 in 1997.   

The T-REX "origami" deployment concept is a novelty, combining smartness and simplicity to create a low-mass low-friction reliable deployer concept. The system was built and operated after overcoming many hardships and challenges. Funding was awarded only after a decade of hard lobbying. It was still an extremely stringent budget, and could only be successful due to the enthusiasm of the staff and students at TMU and JAXA, and the Japanese persistence to deliver once commitment has been made. The project featured international contributions in design and hardware from e.g. Colorado State University (fast cathode), UPM (Madrid, advise on plasma boom), YES2's Emxys (high voltage power supply) and Delta-Utec (system engineering support), although not all could be included in the final experiment due to export and regulatory challenges.

There has always been a fruitful link between YES and T-REX. The idea for T-REX was born in Tokyo (then TMIT) during (and partially inspired by) the YES1 project in 1997. Delta-Utec has delivered a (modest!) contribution in the concept and proposal work since then. Furthermore, over the course of the YES2 projects four Japanese students have performed internships at Delta-Utec to help YES2 and obtain hands-on tether experience. Then, after the success of YES2 Delta-Utec engineers have participated in regular design reviews and delivered engineering support in Tokyo, where we were able to observe the dedication and enthusiasm of the Japanese team. We are happy it worked out and congratulate the team with this fruit of their efforts and an important success for space tethers. We hope the project will be followed by an orbital demonstrator.