Mitsubishi Electric Corporation successfully launched SERVIS-1 LEO satellite on Oct/30 4 : 43 P Russian time which has been in operating without a flaw. SERVIS stands for Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System and is funded by Japan's Ministry of Economics and Industry. Its aim is to accumulate test data of off the shelf components such as micro processors, memories, and gate arrays, for future usage in space. Space components must have a proven track record of reliability and this is one of the major obstacles to reducing costs. The Japanese government aims to try to compare prices of off-the-shelf standard components designed for non-space applications with those of space components, and to create benchmark test data to verify such claims. A follow up SERVIS-2 satellite is also on the horizon for launch.

SERVIS-1 is the first successful launch for Mitsubishi Electric using its own space-qualified Lithium Ion Battery aboard the flight. Mitsubishi Electric's Lithium Ion Battery has a high energy density which contributes to significant savings in the space and weight of the various spacecraft systems. Mitsubishi Electric's Lithium Ion Battery is also onboard iPStar, which is scheduled for launch in 2004.