[Satellite Today 01-30-09] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Small Demonstration Satellite-1 (SDS-1) was moved to its initial functional verification operation after completing its critical operation, JAXA announced Jan. 29.
    The initial functional verification will last for about one month, JAXA said.
    The SDS-1 was launched Jan. 23 as a piggyback satellite with the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (Gosat) on a H-2A launch vehicle. Both satellites are functioning normally, the agency said.