A conceptual drawing of a small radar satellite to be launched by the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space. (Photo courtesy of the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said on April 22 that its Epsilon-6 solid-fuel rocket scheduled to be launched this fiscal year will carry small satellites developed by a Japanese space startup. It is the first order JAXA received to launch commercial satellites by the Epsilon.

The first satellites to be launched commercially are two small radar satellites developed by space startup “Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space.” The company based in Fukuoka City aims to establish a satellite constellation, a surface observation network, that is operated by a total of 36 satellites that work together as a group. The satellites to be launched by the Epsilon-6 are the company’s third and fourth such satellites. The Epsilon-6 will carry a total of eight satellites, including JAXA’s technical demonstration satellites. (Abridged)