KiboCUBE:Teams from the Republic of El Salvador and the Kingdom of Thailand Selected for the Ninth Round
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the United Nations
Office for Chulalongkorn University of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
cooperate under the KiboCUBE program launched in 2015 to provide developing
countries with opportunities to deploy CubeSats from the Japanese Experiment
Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS).
JAXA and UNOOSA have selected Key Institute of the Republic of El
Salvador and Chulalongkorn University of Thailand for the ninth round of
KiboCUBE program, which was open for applications from June 25, 2025 through
December 31, 2025 (Reference No.1).
JAXA and UNOOSA also started an educational program titled “KiboCUBE
Academy” in January 2021 to further promote capacity building on CubeSat
development. (Reference No.2) Through KiboCUBE
program, JAXA continues to contribute to the capacity building of space
technology in developing countries and the Sustainable Development Goal 4:
Quality education, Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth,
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as well as the
promotion of Kibo utilization.
(Reference No.1) Ninth round selection result
Satellite name: CAREY
Applicant：Key Institute, the Republic of El Salvador
Mission Overview: capacity-building, technology demonstration (IoT data
collection, data relay, image acquisition etc.), low earth orbit cosmic ray
measurements
Satellite size: 1U（10cmx10cmx11.35cm, 1.33kg or less）
Satellite name: CUSAT-1
Applicant：Chulalongkorn University, The Kingdom of Thailand
Mission Overview: capacity-building, technology demonstration (IoT data
collection, data relay, image acquisition etc.), flood monitoring,
environmental pollution monitoring
Satellite size: 1U（10cmx10cmx11.35cm, 1.33kg or less）
JAXA
Masaki Shirakawa, Director of Space Environment Utilization Center, Human
Spaceflight Technology Directorate, said:
“I am greatly pleased that JAXA will have the opportunity to
contribute to the Republic of El Salvador’s first-ever small satellite
mission, as well as to further strengthen our cooperation in space with
the Kingdom of Thailand.
Since 2015, JAXA has advanced the KiboCUBE program in collaboration
with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Through the
utilization of the “Kibo” module, we take pride in having continuously
supported the space development efforts of various countries by providing
opportunities such as their first satellite launches and on-orbit
deployments.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to enhancing the space
technological capabilities of nations around the world and to further
promoting the global utilization of the International Space Station.”
UNOOSA
Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA, said:
“In an era where space is increasingly dominated by a handful of players, the United Nations Access to Space for All programme offers the unique possibility for developing countries and new space actors to take meaningful steps towards building their space capabilities. Through the KiboCUBE programme in particular, students and researchers are not only developing satellites, they are also accelerating innovation and using space technology to help address real-world challenges in their own countries. Heartfelt congratulations to the winning teams and we look forward to seeing their missions come to life.”
Key Institute
Juan Francisco Sifontes Colocho, Rector of the Key Institute, said:
“Being selected by JAXA and UNOOSA to design, build, and launch the first Salvadoran satellite is a remarkable milestone for El Salvador. Through the leadership of the CAREY team, the Key Institute is proud to contribute to the development of national space capabilities and to inspire future generations of Salvadoran engineers and scientists.”
Chulalongkorn University
Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, said:
“At Chulalongkorn University, we believe that mastery without values only builds machines, but mastery with values builds futures. CUSAT-1 is the fullest expression of what our students are made of: the discipline to engineer a satellite, and the conviction that space must serve all of humanity. We could not be prouder of what they have shown the world.”