Space BD to Provide Small Satellite Deployment Service from ISS for Myanmar’s Sirst Micro-satellite

TOKYO (Space BD PR) — Space BD Inc., the leading  space startup in Japan that provides access to  space  using the International Space Station Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” and rideshares on Japan’s flagship launch vehicle “H3,” announced that it has been selected by Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, and the Myanmar Aerospace and Engineering University as the satellite deployment service provider for the Micro-satellite development project of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

The satellite will be the first Micro-satellite developed by country, and it will be deployed from the International  Space Station “Kibo.” This time, Hokkaido University and Space BD signed a contract, where  Space BD will provide the launch and deployment service for Myanmar’s first Micro-satellite.

Myanmar’s first Micro-satellite is a 50-kg Micro-satellite, and it will be developed by the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University in collaboration with Hokkaido University and Tohoku University in Japan. The satellite mission aims to implement more efficient and systematic agricultural practices in country and monitor natural disasters through the provision of satellite imagery.

The collaboration between the three universities foresees the launch of two Micro-satellite in the next 5 years including Myanmar’s first Micro-satellite.

As the official service provider selected by JAXA in 2018, Space BD will be providing a one-stop satellite launch and deployment service to support Myanmar’s first Micro-satellite mission. Through participation in this project, Space BD hopes to cultivate more international cooperative projects within the APAC region and stimulate new demands for the International Space Station “Kibo” and Japanese launchers.

Comment from Prof. Yukihiro Takahashi, Director, Space Mission Center, Hokkaido University

We have been collaborating with Southeast Asian countries to promote 50kg class Micro-satellite projects. It is not just a matter of launching a satellite and taking an image, but our goal is to bring truly practical outcomes by analyzing the data acquired through the latest technology and observation methods. Therefore, it is very important for a country that comes into space for the first time to have a high probability of successfully launching the first unit into orbit. In that sense, we believe that the deployment from “Kibo” is the optimum way to launch satellite since it has milder vibration conditions during launch than the regular piggyback launches. Going forward, we will continue to expand space utilization to the world through close industry-academia collaboration.

Comment from Kazuhiro Ohno, Manager, Marketing, Satellite Launch Services, Space BD

We are delighted to contribute the space development in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by providing our service to their first Micro-satellite launch.  Space BD  believes that our service using “Kibo” module is the easiest and the most reliable way for in-orbit demonstration. As one of the world’s leading players in the ISS utilization, Space BD will continue our best effort to be able to lead the utilization of ‘Kibo’ by accommodating a diverse range of missions and users.