“G-SATELLITE To Space” Tokyo 2020 Games Support Satellite has Successfully Launched! Comments from SUGIZO and More Have Arrived!

The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee ONE TEAM PROJECT’s small satellite that will be used for the second project "Support of Tokyo 2020 from Space!" was successfully launched on March 7th (JST).

In this project, the small G-SATELLITE satellite equipped with GUNPLAs of the Gundam and Char’s Zaku from Mobile Suit Gundam will be released into outer space from the International Space Station (ISS) and orbit Earth during the Tokyo 2020 Games, sending support messages down to Earth.

The G-SATELLITE was mainly developed by the University of Tokyo and was attached to the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) and loaded onto the Dragon supply ship, which carried it to the ISS. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket loaded with the Dragon supply ship and reached the ISS at approx. 8:00 PM (JST).

We have received comments from Professor Shinichi Nakasuka of the University of Tokyo Graduate School, astronauts Norishige Kanai and Naoko Yamazaki, and LUNA SEA guitarist SUGIZO after the successful launch.

The G-SATELLITE is scheduled to release from the ISS into outer space in late April, so stay tuned.


Shinichi Nakasuka: Professor at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the Graduate School of Engineering of The University of Tokyo
The G-SATELLITE, which we have been working hard to create in our laboratory, is finally launching and I feel very motivated. This time we worked on the rocket side of things and I believe that everything will proceed without any problems, but the most important point in the operation is when we check the satellite after it has been released from the space station. I am looking forward to the moment when the satellite, which our young staff developed by incorporating new technologies, enters orbit and functions properly. Please root for us.


Norishige Kanai: Astronaut of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
We are pleased to announce that we have reached a milestone through this launch. The satellite will be released into outer space after some manual work by astronauts in orbit, and we look forward to enjoying the “glory of victory” with everyone who has been supporting us.


Naoko Yamazaki: Astronaut/Researcher at the University of Tokyo Aerospace Engineering Nakasuka Funase Laboratory
The Gundam and Char’s Zaku have actually taken off into space! I hope that the spirit of world peace of the Olympic games will spread when the Gundam and Char’s Zaku stand side-by-side in space after we overcome our countless difficulties.


SUGIZO: LUNA SEA Guitarist/X JAPAN GuitaristCongratulations on the successful launch of the G-SATELLITE. The satellite flew up to space with our dreams and our music. Nothing can be this impressive. If this project can truly help people across the world from different nations, races, religions, and cultures to join hands, there is nothing more I can wish for.