Star Signal Solutions Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo; CEO: Akihiro Iwaki) has been selected for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s Space Strategy Fund under the technology development theme, “Technologies for Realizing Flexible Use of Space.”
Under this program, the company will conduct research and development over the next four years* with a total project budget of approximately JPY 2 billion**.
This program aims to create innovative technologies across three key areas—on-orbit manufacturing and assembly, on-orbit object removal, and Space Situational Awareness (SSA)—in response to the increasing congestion of space and the rapid growth of small debris.
Within this initiative, Star Signal Solutions will be responsible for developing SSA technologies to enable the observation, tracking, prediction, and cataloging of orbital objects, including small debris under 10 cm in size, which has traditionally been difficult to detect.
* The initial project period runs from the date of grant approval to the end of the fiscal year in which the first stage-gate evaluation is completed.
** The maximum funding amount is subject to change depending on future stage-gate evaluations.
For more information, please visit the JAXA Space Strategy Fund website.
Project Overview
In this project, Star Signal Solutions Inc. will collaborate with the Kiso Observatory of the University of Tokyo, which operates the astronomical observation system Tomo-e Gozen, to develop innovative technologies for the cost-effective and high-efficiency cataloging of space objects, including small debris under 10 cm in size that has previously been difficult to sufficiently observe and track.
In addition, the project will include demonstration activities aimed at the commercial utilization of the resulting data, with the goal of establishing a next-generation Space Situational Awareness (SSA) infrastructure that contributes to reducing collision risks for satellites and space stations.
