The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seeking a prime contractor to develop and manufacture its next launch vehicle.
In a public notification, the space agency stated that it is inviting potential bidders to apply to build the country’s new…
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seeking a prime contractor to develop and manufacture its next launch vehicle.
In a public notification, the space agency stated that it is inviting potential bidders to apply to build the country’s new flagship launch vehicle. However, JAXA did caution that the invitation is based on the assumption that its scheduled Japan fiscal year 2014 budget will come into force.
JAXA said that the “new launch vehicle will be freshly developed with a goal of securing Japan’s autonomous launch capability of satellites and other payloads while acquiring international competitiveness in the space transportation field and maintaining and developing technical and industrial bases.”
Mirroring the wider global trend, JAXA is turning to the private sector after a committee from the National Space Policy of the Cabinet Office recommended private industry play an important role throughout the new rocket project in order to make it an internationally competitive launch vehicle.
In recent years, Japan has been looking to bolster the commercial capabilities of its space industry and better compete in the international market.
In September 2013, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) secured its first ever commercial launch contract with a deal to loft Telesat’s new high throughput satellite, Telstar 12 Vantage, in late 2015.
The contract award came a year after MHI successfully launched a satellite for its first overseas customer, an Earth observation satellite for the South Korean government in May 2012.
MHI then signed an agreement with JAXA in September 2012 under which the former took ownership of the H-IIB heavy lift rocket. Under the privatisation agreement, MHI now handles all manufacturing and launch activities for the rocket, the only exceptions being flight data acquisition and range safety management, which will continue to come under the auspices of JAXA.
H-IIB can lift up to 8 tonnes thereby giving MHI the capacity to launch multiple satellites or larger high throughput satellites. In February 2013, The Japanese company signed an MoU with Arianespace to develop synergies in how they prepare satellites for launch, enabling operators to switch between them more easily if there was a problem.