Seiren CubeSat Bus Systems and SAR Satellite Antennas

Seiren has been actively involved in the development of ultrasmall artificial satellites, specifically CubeSats, in collaboration with the Fukui Prefectural Government, the University of Tokyo, and other entities. The company has successfully launched multiple CubeSats into orbit, with their bus systems developed by Seiren, which have transmitted various data back to Earth. Seiren aims to expand its presence in the space business through the development and manufacturing of these ultrasmall satellites and the utilization of the data they collect.

A CubeSat is an ultrasmall artificial satellite weighing between 1kg and 10kg. The advent of CubeSats has democratized access to orbit and space for smaller countries and enterprises, which was previously limited to major nations. Seiren anticipates a shift in the artificial satellite market towards ultrasmall satellites and is positioning itself to capitalize on this trend as part of its growth strategy.

Furthermore, Seiren Co., Ltd. and Synspective Inc. are collaborating on the development of a mass production process for small SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite antennas. This initiative aims to foster the growth of the space industry in Japan by leveraging Seiren’s strengths in developing and manufacturing small satellites to assemble multiple antennas for SAR satellites. SAR satellites are equipped with devices that monitor the ground surface using electromagnetic waves, allowing for stable observations independent of time of day/night or weather conditions, as microwaves can capture the shape of the ground surface and buildings.

Seiren is also a participant in the Fukui Prefectural Citizens’ Satellite Project, a pioneering initiative in Japan where local government and prefectural enterprises jointly launch an artificial satellite to create an innovative business model. This project, launched by the Fukui Satellite Technology & Research Association (FSTRA) in 2016, involves seven manufacturing-based enterprises (including Seiren) and four system-based enterprises, with the dual goals of “Development of manufacturing industry” and “Utilization of satellite data.” The prefectural citizens’ satellite was successfully launched into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome on March 22, 2021 (Japan Time).