A Japanese folding has proven itself in space: an origami antenna, compact at launch, deployed to reach 25 times its original size. This satellite was part of the eight launched by Rocket Lab from New Zealand, on behalf of the Japanese space agency JAXA.
Specifically, the "Kakuchin Rising" mission lifted off on April 22, 2026 at 11:09 PM EDT. The Electron rocket placed the satellites into a low Earth orbit at an altitude of 540 km (about 336 miles), about an hour after launch. This is the second flight of JAXA's innovative technology demonstration program.
Origami is the Japanese art of folding.
Image Wikimedia
The eight satellites are very diverse: small educational satellites, an ocean observation satellite, an ultra-compact multispectral camera demonstrator, and above all this origami-folded antenna. Once deployed, it reaches 25 times its folded size, an engineering feat that allows large structures to be carried in a reduced volume.
Earlier, the first flight of this program, "RAISE and Shine", took place in December 2025, carrying the RAISE-4 satellite to test various technologies. These missions illustrate the fruitful collaboration between Rocket Lab and JAXA, with launches from the New Zealand site.
As for the Electron rocket, 18 meters (about 59 feet) tall, it specializes in launching small satellites. This 79th flight confirms its reliability. Its HASTE version also allows suborbital flights to test hypersonic technologies.
Space origami is not just a simple gadget: it could equip many satellites in the future, allowing giant antennas and solar panels to be transported in reduced spaces. This technique inspired by folded paper is a major asset for future missions.
View from the upper stage of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket during the "Kakushin Rising" launch on April 22, 2026. The first stage is visible falling back to Earth.
View from the upper stage of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket during the "Kakushin Rising" launch on April 22, 2026.
The first stage is visible during its fall back to Earth.
Photo credit: Rocket Lab Origami in space engineering
Origami techniques, derived from traditional Japanese folding, are increasingly used in space engineering. They allow the design of structures that deploy once in space, such as antennas, solar panels, or thermal shields. The principle is simple: fold a large surface into a compact volume, then unfold it automatically.
The folded antenna launched during "Kakuchin Rising" is an example: compact at launch, it expands to 25 times its original size once in orbit. This allows large-scale equipment to be carried without increasing the satellite's size. Engineers are also studying self-deployable structures for future lunar or Martian missions.
This approach offers significant advantages: reduced volume at launch, lightness, and reliability thanks to simple mechanisms. However, the design must account for space constraints (vacuum, radiation, temperature variations) and ensure a flawless deployment. Space origami is therefore a rapidly expanding field of research.