Shin'en (spacecraft)

Shin'en
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorUNISEC
COSPAR ID2010-020F
SATCAT no.36578
WebsiteUNITEC-1
Mission duration1 day (expected: at least 6–7 months)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerUNISEC
Launch mass20 kilograms (44 lb)
Dimensions35 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm
Power25 W from Solar cells
Start of mission
Launch date20 May 2010, 21:58:22
RocketH-IIA 202
Launch siteTanegashima LA-Y
End of mission
Last contact21 May 2010
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric orbit
Perihelion altitude0.915 AU
Aphelion altitude1.089 AU
Inclination6.8°
Flyby of Venus
Closest approachIntended: December 2010

Shin'en, known before launch as UNITEC-1 or UNISEC Technology Experiment Carrier 1, is a Japanese student spacecraft which was intended to make a flyby of Venus in order to study the effects of interplanetary spaceflight on spacecraft computers. In doing so, it was intended to become the first student-built spacecraft to operate beyond geocentric orbit. It was operated by University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC), a collaboration between several Japanese universities.

It was launched on 20 May 2010 and contact was lost shortly after.