Space Systems Command (SSC), the US Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war fighting capabilities in and from space, announced on the 17th of May that they have successfully delivered the second and final spaceflight-ready payload to Japan. 

Japan will test its next-generation rocket from Tanegashima Space Centre this Thursday. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a prime contractor have developed the H-III rocket.

Director-General Timo Pesonen on behalf of the European Commission signed a Copernicus Cooperation Arrangement with the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan.

Online fashion retailer Yusaku Maezawa, the Japanese billionaire who purchased all the seats aboard SpaceX’s Starship, has picked eight crew members to accompany him on the journey. for the first-ever artist-centered mission.

Astroscale Japan Inc., a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), a satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability Company, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have started concept co-creation activities for a satellite refueling service under the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation (J-SPARC). The aim is to explore concepts for a fuel delivery service for one year toward realizing space sustainability. The mission concept will be to provide refueling service on orbit to satellites that are both prepared and unprepared to be refueled.

British satellite operator Satellite Vu, has signed a multimillion pound purchase option with Japanese satellite remote sensing commercial services provider Japan Space Imaging Corporation (JSI), following the opening of Satellite Vu’s Early Access Option Programme (EAOP), the company said.

NASA and the Government of Japan agreed on further contributions by Japan to Gateway, the Moon-orbiting outpost, as a key component of the Artemis missions, NASA said. In addition to this agreement, Japan also committed to participate in the International Space Station Program up until 2030.

Aerospace company Airbus’ HAPS Connectivity (High Altitude Platform Station) Business has signed a Letter of Intent with Japanese Space Compass Corporation to cooperate on servicing the Japanese market with mobile connectivity and Earth observation services from the Stratosphere with Airbus’ Zephyr HAPS platform, the company said.

The Japanese Epsilon-6 launch vehicle carrying satellites failed at launch on Wednesday, with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) having to order the rocket to self-destruct a few minutes after liftoff due to it deviating from its intended trajectory.

Japan and Germany declared the countries will not conduct direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing, agreeing to the US-driven initiative launched earlier this year. The announcement was made during the second session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on reducing space threats.