On September 4, 2019 (Thu), as part of the second project of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee's ONE TEAM PROJECT "Support of Tokyo 2020 from Space!", in collaboration with the University of Tokyo and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), for "G-SATELLITE to Space" where Gundam supports the Tokyo 2020 Games from space, a tour of the manufacturing plant by the astronauts and current project status as well as public meeting was held.

On that day, astronauts Soichi Noguchi & Norishige Kanai appeared, and visited the plastic model manufacturing plant "Bandai Hobby Center" of BANDAI SPIRITS Hobby Department, which from the 1980 release of "1/144 Gundam", has made over 500 million units (as of May 2019) of gunpla. A detailed explanation was given by the production supervisor in charge of the gunpla mounted on the satellite, Nobuhiro Yamanaka.

▲Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, Satellite-Mounted Gunpla Production Supervisor Nobuhiro Yamanaka, Astronaut Norishige Kanai

The gunpla to be mounted on the satellite are of a special spec for space environment. Besides atomic oxygen (AO), a vacuum environment, and the absence of air, and assuming severe environments such as extremely low and high temperatures, a "AO-Resistant Coating (Paint)" is used for the coating.

As for the size of the gunpla, in order to mount both the Gundam and Char Zaku together on the microsatellite a 1/200 scale is used, and for the design a 3D printer is also used. 3D printers have also been proven aboard the ISS, and this is because necessary parts and tools may not be available in space. Overseas, there are studies into making buildings such as lunar bases on 3D printers as well.

LEDs are embedded into the gunpla's eyes and vernier parts, and also has gimmicks that shine in the Olympic colors. The "LED" which is already used in space, helps create an "exciting feeling" of everyday continued life. Also, by using lead wiring in response to the vacuum environment, electrical connectivity is achieved.

For "G-SATELLITE to Space", the microsatellite "G-SATELLITE", mounted with Gundam and Char Zaku gunpla, will be released between March and April 2020 from the ISS (International Space Station) to outer space. G-SATELLITE, for a period before and during the Tokyo 2020 Games, will send messages of support to Earth while orbiting the planet.

In December 2019, details of the plan are to be announced, so please look forward to it.

（GUNDAM.INFO Editorial Department）