In Japan, private corporations are increasingly entering the low Earth orbit observation satellite business. With advances in launch technology reducing the expense burden and enabling the capture of sharper images, low Earth orbit satellites are drawing attention as a new growth field.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 12th, Japanese communications satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT said on the 11th it plans to invest about 40 billion yen (about 370 billion won) to launch 10 small Earth observation satellites by spring 2028.
The satellites the company will introduce are U.S.-made small satellites measuring 1.3 meters in height and 2.8 meters in width, and they are to be operated in low Earth orbit, circling the Earth about once every 90 minutes. Linking 10 satellites will allow continuous imaging of specific regions during daylight hours, enabling denser observation. Sky Perfect JSAT plans to sell the images secured in this way to Japan's Defense Ministry and private corporations.
Sky Perfect JSAT currently operates 17 satellites in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, providing satellite phone and satellite broadcasting services. However, it has not built a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Network so far, and it was reported to have decided on new launches as related demand has recently increased.
Moves by major Japanese corporations are continuing as well. NTT Data, a subsidiary of NTT, plans to launch eight low Earth orbit satellites for Earth observation from 2027 onward, and IHI, one of Japan's three major heavy industry companies, is also working with a British corporation to build an observation satellite network.
The Yomiuri Shimbun noted that low Earth orbit satellites can secure sharper images than geostationary satellites, and as launch technology advances have lowered the expense, their applications are rapidly expanding. In particular, the observation satellite field is evaluated as a promising market going forward because it can incorporate technologies in which Japan has strengths, such as high-performance radar.