LOGAN, Utah — Japanese startup Interstellar Technologies raised 3.1 billion yen ($21 million) to fund rocket and communications satellite development.
Investors contributing to the Series E investment round, announced Aug. 5 at the SmallSat Conference here, include SBI Group, Japanese mobile phone network operator NTT Docomo and Resona Bank.
Interstellar Technologies, previously known for development of the Zero rocket, is expanding into satellite communications thanks to government contracts and private investment. The company’s Satellite Communications 3.0 promises “high-speed, high-capacity communications,” Keiji Atsuta, Interstellar board director and chief operating officer, told SpaceNews.
Interstellar is following the vertical-integration model SpaceX is demonstrating with its Falcon rockets launching Starlink communications satellites.
Formation Flying
Interstellar was tapped by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in June to work with Japanese universities on core wireless communications technologies. In addition, Interstellar and participating universities will investigate formation flying to enable multiple miniature satellites to function as a large-scale antenna for direct-to-device communications.
An important goal for Japan is establishing its own emergency communications constellation, rather than relying on Starlink in the wake of natural disasters, Atsuta said.
In September, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology awarded Interstellar a research grant with a maximum value of 2 billion yen. The research focuses on continued development of Interstellar’s small, two-stage Zero rocket.