Former Director-General of Cabinet Office's Office of National Space Policy, Yoshinori Komiya, Appointed as AstroX's "Executive Advisor for Government Affairs"

AstroX, Inc. (Headquarters: Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture; CEO: Takebu Oda; hereinafter "AstroX"), which is developing a satellite launch rocket using the Rockoon method (air launch method using a balloon), announced that Mr. Yoshinori Komiya, former Director-General of the Cabinet Office's Office of National Space Policy, has been appointed as Executive Advisor for Government Affairs to strengthen its government collaboration system.

With this appointment, AstroX will strengthen its connection with space policy, national security, and industrial policy, accelerating its efforts towards the social implementation of Japan's space transportation infrastructure.

▪️Background of Appointment

Under the vision of "Restoring 'Japan as No. 1' in space development," AstroX is developing a satellite launch rocket using the Rockoon method, which transports a rocket to the stratosphere using a balloon and then air-launches it from there. Space transportation is a social infrastructure that spans multiple policy areas such as national security, industrial competitiveness, regional revitalization, and disaster response, making collaboration with policy extremely important for private space companies.

Since joining the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), Mr. Komiya has been involved in the planning and formulation of industrial policy, intellectual property policy, IT strategy, and space policy at the core of the government for over 33 years. In particular, as Director-General of the Cabinet Office's Office of National Space Policy, he played a key role in a turning point in Japan's space policy, including the revision of the Basic Plan for Space Policy and the formulation of the Space Activities Act and the Satellite Remote Sensing Act.

With this appointment, AstroX will further promote:

・ Strengthening consistency with space policy

・ Promoting public-private collaboration

・ Connecting regional revitalization with space transportation

・ Strengthening the positioning of space transportation as a national security and industrial base

▪️Profile of Yoshinori Komiya

After graduating from the University of Tokyo with a degree in Economics in 1984, he joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). For over 33 years, he was involved in government industrial policy, intellectual property policy, IT strategy, and space policy.

As Director of the Intellectual Property Policy Office, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, he promoted the formulation of national intellectual property strategies and the criminalization of trade secret infringement. He served as Director of the Industrial Machinery Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau (concurrently Director of the Robot Industry Office), Secretary to the Minister (acting), and Cabinet Counselor (Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary's Office) at the Cabinet Secretariat, where he was responsible for revising the national IT strategy based on the Basic IT Law.

From 2014, as Space Policy Officer (later Director-General of the Office of National Space Policy) at the Cabinet Office, he promoted the revision of the Basic Plan for Space Policy and the establishment of systems for the Space Activities Act and the Satellite Remote Sensing Act. In 2016, he was appointed Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office. After retiring in 2017, he joined IHI Corporation. After serving as Deputy Head of the Resources, Energy & Environment Business Area, he became Executive Officer and General Manager of the Advanced Information Management Division. From April 2024, he will serve as Executive Fellow, and from April 2025, as Advisor.

In addition, he serves as an advisor to Carlyle Japan LLC, Gloving Inc., and several space startups, and as a director of the Space Passenger Transportation Promotion Council.

▪️Comment from Yoshinori Komiya

Space transportation is a crucial area that forms the foundation of Japan's space activities, and further development is expected in the future. AstroX's Rockoon method is an initiative that has the potential to expand Japan's options for space transportation, and I feel it is very significant to be involved in its social implementation.

▪️About AstroX

AstroX, Inc. is a space startup that aims to "Restore 'Japan as No. 1' in space development" and is developing a satellite launch rocket using the Rockoon method. We aim to build a space transportation infrastructure that enables low-cost, high-frequency, and flexible launches.

▪️Join us in reaching space!

AstroX is looking for talent to be involved in rocket development. If you resonate with our initiatives or are even slightly interested in space development, please feel free to contact us.

Recruitment Site URL:https://astrox.jp/recruit/

▪️Company Overview

Company Name: AstroX, Inc.

Headquarters: 1-87 Honmachi, Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture

Representative: Takebu Oda, Representative Director CEO

Established: May 20, 2022

Business Activities: Space transportation business

Company URL:https://astrox.jp