Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT to deepen ties with SpaceX

For Asia’s largest satellite company, SKY Perfect JSAT, the development of Elon Musk‘s rocket and satellite Internet giant SpaceX during Donald Trump‘s second US presidency is good news. The Japanese firm is likely to deepen ties with SpaceX, its president Eiichi Yonekura said after announcing a $230 million investment in Planet Labs’ low-Earth orbit surveillance satellite Pelican to expand its satellite imaging business, reported by Reuters.

Japan’s iQPS radar satellite to launch

Among them is the planned launch of Japan’s iQPS radar satellite, in which JSAT has a minority stake. SKY Perfect JSAT is probably SpaceX’s largest customer in Asia, and Planet’s Pelicans mainly uses Falcon 9 for launches. SpaceX’s rapid rise is not a negative factor for SKY Perfect JSAT’s growth, Yonekura said, citing its heavy reliance on SpaceX rockets to launch its satellites into space.

Musk’s closeness to Trump has influenced U.S. politics. That could benefit SpaceX, for example, as the company can now focus more on missions to Mars. The Trump administration is likely to dissolve the National Space Council after SpaceX’s lobbying.

JSAT and SpaceX

JSAT operates 17 geosynchronous communications satellites, the most in Asia, and plans to start a low-orbit surveillance business. In fiscal 2030, it expects to generate $151 million in sales from satellite data companies, nearly six times its current level, mostly from national security customers.

SpaceX has reduced the cost of launching rockets by developing the reusable Falcon 9, which has delivered thousands of communications satellites into orbit for its Starlink internet service. Even if JSAT loses access to SpaceX technology, it will work with long-time European partner Arianespace or Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, whose H3 rocket will become economically competitive in four to five years.