Japan’s ISSA-J1 Satellite to Launch on India’s PSLV in 2027

A Japanese company has purchased an Indian PSLV rocket for the launch of its ISSA-J1 ‘In-Situ Space Situational Awareness-Japan 1’ mission. This spacecraft will be launched in the spring of 2027 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh.

• For the first time, a Japanese company has purchased a complete Indian PSLV rocket to carry its ISSA-J1 satellite into space. ISSA-J1 stands for In-Situ Space Situational Awareness-Japan 1 mission.
• This spacecraft will be launched in the spring of 2027 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh, through India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• ISSA-J1, which means ‘In-Situ Space Situational Awareness-Japan 1,’ is being developed under Japan’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
• The SBIR program, run by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, supports startups and research organizations in creating new technologies and helps bring those results into practical use with government assistance.

ISSA-J1 Mission Goals

• The ISSA-J1 mission will focus on orbital debris. The satellite will observe two large pieces of space debris and provide diagnosis and characterization. Astroscale is leveraging its experience in rendezvous, proximity operations, and satellite inspection.
• The project has reached its final design stage, with component manufacturing and mission planning now underway. With preparations for the 2027 launch, assembly and testing are set to begin in the coming months.
• Astroscale Japan President and Managing Director Eddie Kato said that with nearly 60 successful launches, NSIL has established PSLV as one of the most reliable rockets for low Earth orbit. He further said, "This is the first time that a Japanese entity has purchased a dedicated PSLV launch vehicle."
• Astroscale has signed memorandums of understanding with two Indian startups, Bellatrix and Digantara, to explore joint market opportunities. The company is also working with local partner Memco Associates to develop collaboration on both the supply and demand sides in India’s space sector.