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[Japan News] December 2024 [Satellite Remote Sensing

Writer's picture: Kazushi MotomuraKazushi Motomura

Here are some selected Japan's satellite remote sensing-related news from December 2024.

If you're interested, please check out my YouTube channel as well!




mmary

  • AstroX and JAXA have initiated a joint effort to develop a high-altitude balloon attitude control device, targeting ground evaluation tests in 2025 and product commercialization by 2027.

  • Meanwhile, ArkEdge Space and New Space Intelligence (NSI) have signed an MoU for satellite image analysis solutions, focusing on calibration technology, new application development, and international marketing.

  • Ridge-i has launched “Ridge SAT Image Analyzer (RSIA),” which simplifies satellite image processing—from pre-processing to analysis—with a single command.

  • JAXA has begun recruiting for its “Space Strategy Fund,” seeking talent for business promotion, public offering management, and technical development oversight.

  • Finally, Synspective’s successful launch of its SAR satellite “StriX-1” marks its sixth operational satellite; the company’s share price briefly climbed post-launch before experiencing a decline.


News

#

Date

Title

1

December 3, 2024

AstroX and JAXA Begin Research and Development of Balloon Attitude Control Device

2

December 6, 2024

ArkEdge Space and NSI Sign MoU in Satellite Image Analysis

3

December 6, 2024

Ridge-i Launches ‘RSIA' for One-Command Satellite Image Analysis

4

December 16, 2024

JAXA Initiates Career Recruitment for 'Space Strategy Fund

5

December 22, 2024

Synspective launches 6th satellite, including "StriX-1"

News Highlights

AstroX and JAXA Begin Research and Development of Balloon Attitude Control Device

  • AstroX

    • A Japanese private space startup

    • Developing "Rockoon" technology combining balloons and rockets for satellite orbit insertion

    • Established in 2022 and headquartered in Fukushima Prefecture

  • AstroX and JAXA are collaborating to develop a balloon-mounted attitude control device.

    • Ground evaluation tests are planned for 2025, with commercialization aimed for 2027.

    • The device aims to achieve high-precision attitude control for balloons.

    • AstroX handles ground evaluation and durability development, while JAXA leads technical demonstration tests in balloon environments.


ArkEdge Space and NSI Sign MoU in Satellite Image Analysis

  • ArkEdge Space

    • A space startup specializing in planning, designing, and operating small satellite constellations.

    • Develops satellite infrastructure for diverse missions, including Earth observation and low-orbit satellite communication.

  • New Space Intelligence (NSI)

    • A company providing satellite data analysis using remote sensing and AI.

    • Offers change detection services and customized solutions through its proprietary "satellite data pipeline.“

    • Headquartered in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, founded by members of AIT and Yamaguchi University.

  • ArkEdge Space and NSI have signed the MOU.

    • Key initiatives include joint development of calibration technology, creation of new applications, and international marketing activities.

    • Aims to provide solutions in various fields, such as Earth observation, agriculture, disaster response, and urban planning.


Ridge-i Launches ‘RSIA' for One-Command Satellite Image Analysis

  • Ridge-i

    • A Japanese company providing solutions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

    • A Japanese company providing solutions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Promotes AI applications in various fields, including satellite data analysis, image recognition, and natural language processing.

  • Ridge-i launched the "Ridge SAT Image Analyzer (RSIA), a satellite analysis tool that allows users to easily process satellite image interpretation tasks without specialized knowledge.

    • RSIA enables one-command execution from preprocessing to analysis of satellite images, reducing the burden on users.

    • RSIA features a container environment capable of analyzing object detection, land classification, and change detection.

    • Supports optical, near-infrared, and SAR data.


JAXA Initiates Career Recruitment for 'Space Strategy Fund

  • JAXA has begun recruiting personnel for the planning, operation, and promotion of the 'Space Strategy Fund,' which aims to invest approximately 1 trillion yen in private companies over ten years.

  • The recruitment is open to individuals regardless of their knowledge or experience in the space sector.

  • The main duties for the positions

    • Business Promotion?

      • Public offering-related tasks, including the consolidation of public offering guidelines, overall progress management, and secretariat duties for review committees. Planning and evaluation of business strategies necessary for organizational management.

        技術開発マネジメント

    • Technology Development Management

      • Support for planning technology development themes from the perspectives of technical specifications and feasibility, the creation of public offering guidelines tailored to technology development themes. Monitoring of plans and progress for individual projects.


Synspective launches 6th satellite, including "StriX-1"

  • Synspective

    • A Japanese satellite remote sensing company

    • Develops the "StriX" series SAR satellite constellation

    • Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in December 2024

  • The launch brings Synspective's operational satellites to six

    • "StriX-1" is part of Synspective's SAR satellite series

    • Spatial resolution is 0.5 meters or better

  • Stock prices initially rose after the launch but later declined


Thoughts

  • I think high-altitude balloons are good enough for optical fixed-point monitoring. That said, optical Earth observation satellites are still necessary for national security.

  • I’m interested in trying Ridge-i’s RSIA. It seems like there could be some clever preprocessing involved, and I’m also curious about what’s under the hood of their AI library.

  • Regarding JAXA’s career recruitment, based on my experience, I might be able to handle it (not that I’m necessarily saying I’d go for it). Feel free to check it out if you’re interested.

  • I believe Synspective should get more recognition in the market.

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