Itochu Take First Steps As Japan's First Commercial EO Operator

EARTH OBSERVATION

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Tokyo (SPX) Jul 08, 2004
Itochu Corporation will establish a planning company (World Spectrum, Inc.) in August to consider development of the first Japanese commercial remote sensing satellite - hosting an advanced hyper-spectral sensor as its primary mission.

A number of experienced space business companies are participating in the venture and will contribute to the feasibility study phase, including: ImageONE Co Ltd, JSAT Corporation, NTT Data Corporation and NEC Toshiba Space Systems Ltd. Initial capitalization of the company is 200 Million Yen.

Over the last few decades, Japan's remote sensing satellite programs have been led and fully-funded by the Government - typically shaped as research and development programmes of MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) or METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

Despite the existence of several major international remote sensing satellite operators in North America, Canada, Europe and elsewhere, the private sector in Japan has yet to produce a home-grown business; the majority of data users - including those in Japanese Government - have traditionally satisfied their satellite imagery requirements via overseas operators.

As the first Japanese commercial remote sensing satellite operator, Itochu and partners will independently provide satellite imagery to meet the needs of a range of users in Japan, and will develop a global data and information business through a planned world-wide distribution network.

Itochu envisages operational supply of information and data products developed from two different satellite sensors: a high-resolution electro-optical sensor; and an advanced hyper-spectral imaging sensor. Commercial distribution of sub-1 metre electric-optical satellite imagery is already commonplace globally - supplied by US operators.

Hyper-spectral data is not yet widely available - with just a few science missions attempted to date. Itochu anticipates significant new market opportunities resulting from the potential of such data in numerous practical applications - including in defence, mineral exploration, agriculture, forestry, and environmental management.

One goal of the feasibility study phase is to assemble the very best possible team to move towards the operations phase. This is expected to include major overseas companies and research organizations with strong heritage in satellite remote sensing: EADS Astrium group and MacDonald Dettwiler are reported to have strong interest in strategic partnership roles in this ambitious venture. QinetiQ and CSIRO will provide consultancy services to Itochu and Partners to support the study and planning.

Itochu will also investigate the possibility of public-private-partnerships with both Japanese and/or overseas governmental space programs - as a cost-effective mechanism for delivery of research and development services to partner Governments at reduced cost to the taxpayer.

Itochu aims to develop a strong position in the remote sensing satellite market, combining traditional markets with new and innovative services to re-define the potential opportunities. Combined with Itochu's track record in satellite communication, broadcasting and navigation services through its subsidiary - JSAT Corporation - this new business will confirm the company's status as a leader in commercial space.

EARTH OBSERVATION

Spacehab Subsidiary Awarded New $1.3 Million NASA Contract

Houston TX (SPX) Jul 07, 2004
Spacehab, Incorporated, a leading provider of commercial space services, Tuesday announced that its Astrotech Space Operations subsidiary has been awarded a new contract by NASA/Kennedy Space Center to provide the payload processing facilities and support for the Calipso/CloudSat mission.

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