iQPS SAR Microsatellite Constellation
iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space)
iQPS's QPS-SAR microsatellite X-band constellation providing 46 cm resolution radar imagery for infrastructure monitoring and disaster response in Japan and globally.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Mass
- 100 kg
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- SAR Band
- X-band
- Resolution (Spotlight)
- 46 cm
- Satellite Mass
- ~100 kg
- Antenna
- Large deployable reflector (folded for launch)
- Applications
- Disaster response, infrastructure deformation, urban monitoring
- Distribution Partner
- NTT Data (Japan)
- HQ
- Fukuoka (Kyushu), Japan
About
iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space) operates the QPS-SAR constellation — a series of X-band synthetic aperture radar microsatellites launched from 2019 onwards, providing very-high-resolution SAR imagery for infrastructure monitoring, disaster response, and urban development tracking. The QPS-SAR satellites achieve 46 cm resolution in Spotlight mode — the highest resolution of any microsatellite SAR system.
Each QPS-SAR satellite weighs approximately 100 kg and carries a large deployable reflector antenna that folds to fit within the small satellite form factor during launch. The deployable antenna enables the high resolution and sensitivity needed for high-quality SAR imaging from a microsatellite bus — a technical innovation that differentiates iQPS from ICEYE and Synspective.
iQPS targets the Japanese domestic market first (earthquake damage assessment, infrastructure deformation monitoring) and international customers second. The company has partnered with NTT Data (Japan) for data distribution and has received contracts from Japanese government agencies for disaster response imagery. iQPS is headquartered in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan — the ‘Q-shu’ in their name.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.