Infostellar Supports Domestic and International Ground Station Operations for JAXA’s RAISE-4 Small Demonstration Satellite

Infostellar Inc., headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo and led by CEO Naomi Kurahara, announced that it provided comprehensive support for domestic and international ground station use for JAXA’s Small Demonstration Satellite-4, RAISE-4. The satellite was launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron on December 14, 2025 and successfully inserted into orbit. Infostellar supported the project from pre-launch preparations through operations in partnership with the satellite system manufacturer contracted for the mission. Rocket Lab’s Electron carrying RAISE-4 was launched from a site in New Zealand on December 14, 2025, Japan Standard Time. The satellite entered its planned orbit and began the first step of operations. Infostellar had provided long-term technical support from the early stages of the project to help ensure mission success. A particularly notable achievement in this project was obtaining satellite operation authorization in a country known for difficult licensing requirements. Traditionally, operations of foreign satellites in that country have faced very high barriers due to remote sensing regulations. Through steady negotiations with authorities via local partners and close cooperation with the satellite system manufacturer, Infostellar cleared the requirements one by one and obtained the radio station license and operational authorization needed to transmit radio waves over the country and communicate with the satellite. This represents a breakthrough example of how Infostellar’s expertise in satellite communications and partnerships with domestic and international ground station networks can open new operational possibilities. Infostellar handled a wide range of ground segment work from the satellite design and manufacturing stages through the start of post-launch operations. This included strategic support for radio station license applications in Japan and overseas, complex domestic and international frequency coordination, ground station setup, fit checks between the satellite and ground stations, end-to-end testing, final connection verification with the satellite control system, and support for regulatory and licensing processes including remote sensing laws. During the Launch and Early Orbit Phase, Infostellar provided reliable communication opportunities in the critical post-launch period through its cloud platform Stella Station and partner ground station networks in Japan and abroad. For routine operations, it continues to provide ground station network services to support completion of the satellite mission. Infostellar’s role in this project went beyond providing communications infrastructure. The company demonstrated its ability to deliver one-stop ground segment support across borders, from physical ground station setup to compliance with complex regulations in multiple countries. Through Stella Station, Infostellar enables ground stations owned by different parties around the world to be used as a single network, allowing satellite operators to access a global communications network without building their own stations. Naomi Kurahara, CEO of Infostellar, said: “We sincerely congratulate JAXA on the completion of RAISE-4’s initial functional verification operations phase and its transition to routine operations. We have worked step by step with JAXA and the satellite system manufacturer, supporting frequency coordination, license applications, ground station selection and coordination, and final connection testing. We believe the success of this project reflects recognition of the strength of our Stella Station platform and our specialized ability to comprehensively support ground segments in Japan and overseas. We will continue expanding our services as an essential partner supporting space missions around the world from the ground.” Infostellar is a GSaaS, or Ground Segment as a Service, provider for orbiting satellites. Through Stella Station, a cloud platform that virtualizes ground station networks, the company provides flexible and scalable ground station access. It also supports ground segment operations needed for satellite missions, including radio station licensing and frequency coordination. By lowering the difficulty of building ground segments, Infostellar helps companies developing new satellite-based businesses improve their missions and services. Founded in Tokyo in 2016, the company now also has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States. Infostellar also offers hosting services. It owns and operates a teleport, or ground station, in Taiki, Hokkaido, selected as a strategic location for spacecraft communications. The Taiki site is equipped with high-speed fiber connectivity, redundant power with UPS, and secure facilities for electronics and data storage to enable reliable operations. The company is also expanding its presence in Japan with new sites under development in the central and southern regions. The company provides dedicated ground segment services for satellite operators and ground network operators, including hosting customer-owned antennas and providing Infostellar-owned dedicated antennas at hosting sites in the Asia-Pacific region. It also offers integrated operations for logistics and related services, including communications infrastructure deployment, maintenance management, and local regulatory compliance. Stella Station is a flexible and scalable cloud-based ground station platform. Satellite operators can access ground stations worldwide with a single setup, while ground station owners can generate revenue by leasing unused ground station time to other satellite operators.