First Japanese satellite with US payload prepared for launch

First Japanese satellite with US payload prepared for launch
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 16, 2024

The first Japanese satellite carrying a U.S. payload has reached a critical milestone with its successful integration and readiness for delivery to the launch site at Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. This achievement marks a significant step in the U.S.-Japan partnership, coming just four years after the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and Japan's Cabinet Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on hosting U.S. payloads aboard Japan's Quasi Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).

On November 18, 2024, Space Systems Command executive director Joy White and USSF Col. Bryon McClain, program executive officer for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power, joined a delegation of U.S. and Japanese officials to celebrate this accomplishment. The event, held at Mitsubishi Electric Company's satellite integration facility near Tokyo, was attended by retired USSF Gen. John "Jay" Raymond and Katherine Monahan, Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy Tokyo.

"We went from a signature on an international agreement to a launch-ready capability with our Japanese partners in less than four years," said White. "Hats off to the entire program team. This is an amazing accomplishment. Not only does this mission serve as the benchmark for successful allied partnership, but it also delivers a much-needed space domain awareness capability. It took a lot of effort and collaboration between our two nations to get to this point."

Col. McClain emphasized the mission's strategic impact, stating, "This is Allied by Design in action. The result is increased resiliency of both U.S. DoD and the government of Japan's national security space and associated ground architectures. The U.S. benefits through deploying U.S. national security sensors and payloads via allied satellites; and Japan benefits by NOAA enabling them to host QZSS ground sites at U.S. owned sites. This is a huge success for the outstanding team, and both nations."

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) developed the Space Domain Awareness optical payloads for the mission. The first satellite, QZS-6, is scheduled for launch in early 2025, while the assembly and integration of QZS-7 are progressing, with its launch planned for early Fiscal Year 2026.