FITSAT-1 is a 1U CubeSat built at Japan's Fukuoka Institute of Technology. The tiny spacecraft is also called Niwaka, after "Hakata Niwaka," an improvised performance of traditional Japanese comedies with masks.
The spacecraft was carried up to the International Space Station on Japan's unmanned H-2 Transfer Vehicle-3 in July 2012, then deployed from the orbiting lab in October by Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide.
The novel cubesat has been orbiting Earth since early October of last year. Though it tips the scales at less than 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms), FITSAT-1's powerful light-emitting diodes (LEDs) make it a compelling target for skywatchers. As long as the LEDs are active, you will be able to see it using binoculars.
Facts in Brief
Launch Date: 2012-07-21
Launch Vehicle: H-IIB
Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan