Astroscale Japan Inc. has been awarded a 7.27 billion yen (including tax) contract by Japan’s Ministry of Defense to develop a responsive space system demonstration satellite prototype. The project, running from March 2025 to March 2028, includes the development and testing of a proto-flight model for a small geostationary demonstration satellite. In the launch and operations phases, which will be managed under a separate contract, the satellite will demonstrate technologies to advance space domain awareness (SDA), space surveillance, intelligence gathering and space operations capabilities.
“This contract marks a significant milestone as Astroscale Japan expands into the security and defense sector,” said Eddie Kato, managing director of Astroscale Japan. “Alongside our existing government and commercial business, we have established a third pillar of our operations. By leveraging our heritage in rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) technologies, we will adapt our capabilities to the unique requirements of this sector.”
This project represents Astroscale Japan’s entry into the security and defense sector, as nations seek to monitor threats and deter adversaries in space. Defense sectors worldwide are increasingly recognizing the value of on-orbit servicing and RPO in securing satellite operations.
By developing a responsive space system prototype, Astroscale Japan will contribute to strengthening the SDA capabilities of the Ministry of Defense and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A future on-orbit demonstration will aim to enhance autonomous and agile satellite operations, space environment monitoring capabilities while bolstering the safety and sustainability of Japan’s space operations.
“This contract underscores the world-leading technologies we have developed in on-orbit servicing” Kato added. “We remain committed to advancing our technologies across all sectors to ensure the safety and sustainability of space.”
Designed specifically for RPO and observation in geostationary orbit, this project will leverage Astroscale Japan’s heritage RPO technologies to develop a highly maneuverable and compact satellite, compared to the traditionally large SDA satellites. Optical communication technology will serve as the on-orbit infrastructure, enabling precise remote operations, high-speed data transmission and stable communications. This demonstration is part of the Ministry of Defense’s broader initiative to establish optical communication links between geostationary satellites through an optical data relay satellite.