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Astroscale Japan Chosen To Advance Space Domain Awareness Capabilities

The contract award from Japan's Ministry of Defense marks the company's first step into the security and defense sector.

Astroscale Japan will work toward developing a responsive space system demonstration satellite prototype. Credit: Lubos Chlubny–stock.adobe.com

Astroscale Japan, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., has been awarded a 7.27 billion yen ($49 million) contract by Japan’s Ministry of Defense to develop a responsive space system demonstration satellite prototype.

The project will leverage Astroscale Japan’s heritage in rendezvous and proximity operations technologies to develop a “highly maneuverable and compact satellite, compared to the traditionally large SDA [space domain awareness] satellites,” according to a press release.

“This contract marks a significant milestone as Astroscale Japan expands into the security and defense sector,” Astroscale Japan Managing Director Eddie Kato said.

The project will run from March 2025 to March 2028 and includes the development and testing of a protoflight model for a small geostationary demonstration satellite.

In the launch and operation phases, which will be managed under a separate contract, the satellite will demonstrate technologies to advance SDA, intelligence gathering and other space capabilities.

“We remain committed to advancing our technologies across all sectors to ensure the safety and sustainability of space,” Kato said.

This project marks a pivotal shift for Astroscale Japan, entering the security and defense sector as nations seek to monitor threats in space.