SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and ispace, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly evaluate the use of SKY Perfect JSAT’s commercial near-Earth tracking network service, “JSAT Space Line”. Under the MoU, the companies will exchange technical information and conduct system compatibility studies with the aim of establishing communications between JSAT Space Line ground stations and “ULTRA,” ispace’s next-generation lunar lander planned for Mission 3, currently targeted for launch in 2028.
The collaboration will also explore the feasibility of demonstration activities between the spacecraft and ground stations. Establishing stable, flexible and resilient communications framework is a critical element of lunar mission operations. As lunar exploration activities continue to accelerate in the years ahead, ispace is seeking to expand its options for ground station services and mission support capabilities.
As part of this effort, ispace will explore the feasibility of leveraging JSAT Space Line’s ground station infrastructure to support communications for future lunar exploration missions. The study will also examine the potential use of the service as a backup to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) ground station network operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). By enhancing redundancy across key communications systems, including X-band downlinks, ispace aims to help establish a more reliable and resilient communications architecture for sustained lunar exploration activities.
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The ground station infrastructure of JSAT Space Line has previously been utilized for signal measurements activities associated with Artemis II, NASA’s crewed lunar flyby mission, demonstrating its proven capability to support lunar exploration mission. As the only commercial company in Asia selected to support NASA’s Artemis II mission, and with proven experience in receiving signals from not only near-Earth space but also the broader cislunar domain, SKY Perfect JSAT will leverage this expertise to support Mission 3. Through this demonstration, the two companies will evaluate the demand for and value of domestic ground station services for lunar exploration missions, while working to build a communications infrastructure that will support Japan’s future lunar exploration activities. Through these efforts, they aim to contribute to the development of next-generation deep space communications infrastructure.
Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace: “Communications infrastructure is one of the most critical elements of lunar exploration missions. Looking ahead to future missions, we believe it is essential to secure connectivity with multiple ground station service providers and establish an operational framework that is both flexible and highly resilient. Our collaboration with SKY Perfect JSAT toward Mission 3 is significant not only in validating the technical effectiveness of JSAT Space Line, but also in expanding the potential use of commercial ground station infrastructure in Japan for lunar exploration missions. We will continue advancing this collaboration as an initiative that contributes not only to future lunar exploration activities but also to strengthening the foundation of Japan’s space industry.”
Teruo Yamashita, Board Director, Managing Executive Officer, President of the Space Business Unit, SKY Perfect JSAT: “As space activities, including lunar exploration, continue to accelerate, we believe that the need for highly reliable communications infrastructure will only continue to grow. This initiative represents an important opportunity to evaluate the applicability of JSAT Space Line to lunar exploration missions. By collaborating with ispace, a leader in advancing lunar exploration, we also expect this effort to further expand the role that commercial communications infrastructure can play in supporting deep space activities. Building on the knowledge and ground station operational experience we have gained through its support for NASA’s Artemis II mission and other space communications initiatives, SKY Perfect JSAT will continue to support ispace’s mission 3, while contributing to the development of Japan’s deep space communications infrastructure.”
