Space BD Successfully Completes First "Commercial Rideshare Launch Service" for Main Rockets on H3 Rocket Flight 6
Space BD has successfully completed the first "Commercial Rideshare Launch Service" for main rockets aboard the H3 Rocket Flight 6. This achievement demonstrated the company's technological and business development capabilities through new infrastructure development for multi-satellite deployment and maritime transport support, marking a significant step towards expanding the commercial use of space in Japan.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 23:00
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Space BD Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masatoshi Nagasaka; hereinafter referred to as "Space BD"), which provides comprehensive services in the space industry, announces that all six satellites for which it provided launch integration support were launched from the Tanegashima Space Center on June 12, 2026, at 09:53:59 (Japan Standard Time, 24-hour format) aboard the H3 Rocket Flight 6 (Model 30 Test Vehicle).
Furthermore, in this mission, the newly developed "Interface Plate (*1)" for releasing multiple satellites from a single payload port and the "Sequencer (*2)" for distributing and controlling the release signals functioned as designed, and signals indicating satellite deployment were successfully received.
This launch support solidifies "expansion of commercial utilization through privately led rideshare launch services," which our company advocated in the announcement on April 24, 2026 (*3), marking a "firm step" towards advancing Japan's utilization of space to the next stage.
*1 Development Cooperation: Chuo Engineering Co., Ltd.
*2 Development Cooperation: Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE) B.V. of the Netherlands
*3 Realization of the First Commercial Rideshare Launch Service for Main Rockets on H3 Rocket Flight 6 (Model 30 Test Vehicle) (Release dated April 24, 2026)
Image: Launch of H3 Rocket Flight 6 (Model 30 Test Vehicle) (Provided by JAXA)
■Space BD's Technological and Business Development Capabilities Supported Mission Completion
This mission was realized not only by providing launch slots but also by Space BD leveraging its technological and business development capabilities to provide rideshare launch services in a one-stop manner throughout the entire process leading up to the launch.
Provision of the First "Commercial Rideshare Launch Slot" for Main Rockets:
Based on the basic agreement concluded with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2019 (*4), we provided rideshare slots for four satellites, marking the first case for Japan's main rockets as a "H3 Rocket Rideshare Launch Service."
Technical Coordination Between All Six Satellites and the Rocket:
We were responsible for the technical coordination of all six satellites onboard, including the four in the rideshare slots (*3).
Newly Developed Infrastructure for Multi-Satellite Deployment:
In cooperation with Chuo Engineering Co., Ltd., we newly developed the "Interface Plate," which enables the deployment of multiple satellites from a single payload port. During the development process, with the cooperation of Tokuda Kogyo Co., Ltd., we adopted approaches such as identifying the environmental test levels for individual satellites and designing/manufacturing verification dummy masses to support early-stage technical investigations. Additionally, in cooperation with ISISPACE, we modified and implemented the "Sequencer" for distributing and controlling release signals to be compatible with the H3 Rocket Flight 6.
Provision of Maritime Transport Services:
For the maritime transport of some satellites to Tanegashima, we supported the acquisition of "permission for dangerous goods transport by ship," which is necessary for transporting satellites equipped with lithium-ion batteries (*5).
*4 Selected as the Sole Service Provider by JAXA for the Project to Provide Opportunities for Rideshare Small Satellite Launches Using Japan's Main Rockets H-IIA/H3 (Release dated December 4, 2019)
*5 Regarding Space BD's "One-Stop Satellite Transport Service"
■Comment from Kohei Kojima, Senior Engineer at Space BD Co., Ltd.
First, I am deeply honored to have been able to support the satellite operators aboard the H3 Rocket Flight 6. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the business partners who collaborated with us on the development and implementation of the infrastructure, and to everyone involved with the H3 rocket (especially JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) for their cooperation in successfully completing the rideshare launch service for H3 Rocket Flight 6.
In this mission, in addition to providing launch slots, we undertook important initiatives for our rideshare launch service business, including the development and implementation of multi-satellite deployment infrastructure, ingenuity in testing approaches, and obtaining permits for the transport of satellites to the launch site. Although there were difficulties along the way, thanks to the warm and strong support from all stakeholders, we achieved the significant success of completing the first "Commercial Rideshare Launch Service" for a main rocket. We are immensely pleased and proud.
Leveraging this achievement, we will continue to contribute to the expansion of commercial utilization of space led by the private sector, and consequently, to the growth of the space industry.
■About Space BD Co., Ltd.
Space BD aims to develop Japan's space business into a world-leading industry as a "Space Trading Company®." Since its establishment in 2017, in addition to providing abundant transportation means to space, it offers one-stop services from business plan examination to technical operational support by its engineering department for the utilization of space, including the International Space Station (ISS).
Based on its sales and business development capabilities rooted in technological strength, its members with diverse career backgrounds are expanding their business into commercialization support and business transformation for government and private sectors utilizing space, as well as into the education field.
As of June 2026, Space BD has handled over 100 satellites, over 670 space experiment samples, and has accumulated achievements in over 40 in-space demonstration experiments.
Company Name: Space BD Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower 7F, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masatoshi Nagasaka, President and CEO
Established: September 1, 2017
Business Activities: Various services and education business in space
URL: https://www.space-bd.com/
Furthermore, in this mission, the newly developed "Interface Plate (*1)" for releasing multiple satellites from a single payload port and the "Sequencer (*2)" for distributing and controlling the release signals functioned as designed, and signals indicating satellite deployment were successfully received.
This launch support solidifies "expansion of commercial utilization through privately led rideshare launch services," which our company advocated in the announcement on April 24, 2026 (*3), marking a "firm step" towards advancing Japan's utilization of space to the next stage.
*1 Development Cooperation: Chuo Engineering Co., Ltd.
*2 Development Cooperation: Innovative Solutions In Space (ISISPACE) B.V. of the Netherlands
*3 Realization of the First Commercial Rideshare Launch Service for Main Rockets on H3 Rocket Flight 6 (Model 30 Test Vehicle) (Release dated April 24, 2026)
Image: Launch of H3 Rocket Flight 6 (Model 30 Test Vehicle) (Provided by JAXA)
■Space BD's Technological and Business Development Capabilities Supported Mission Completion
This mission was realized not only by providing launch slots but also by Space BD leveraging its technological and business development capabilities to provide rideshare launch services in a one-stop manner throughout the entire process leading up to the launch.
Provision of the First "Commercial Rideshare Launch Slot" for Main Rockets:
Based on the basic agreement concluded with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2019 (*4), we provided rideshare slots for four satellites, marking the first case for Japan's main rockets as a "H3 Rocket Rideshare Launch Service."
Technical Coordination Between All Six Satellites and the Rocket:
We were responsible for the technical coordination of all six satellites onboard, including the four in the rideshare slots (*3).
Newly Developed Infrastructure for Multi-Satellite Deployment:
In cooperation with Chuo Engineering Co., Ltd., we newly developed the "Interface Plate," which enables the deployment of multiple satellites from a single payload port. During the development process, with the cooperation of Tokuda Kogyo Co., Ltd., we adopted approaches such as identifying the environmental test levels for individual satellites and designing/manufacturing verification dummy masses to support early-stage technical investigations. Additionally, in cooperation with ISISPACE, we modified and implemented the "Sequencer" for distributing and controlling release signals to be compatible with the H3 Rocket Flight 6.
Provision of Maritime Transport Services:
For the maritime transport of some satellites to Tanegashima, we supported the acquisition of "permission for dangerous goods transport by ship," which is necessary for transporting satellites equipped with lithium-ion batteries (*5).
*4 Selected as the Sole Service Provider by JAXA for the Project to Provide Opportunities for Rideshare Small Satellite Launches Using Japan's Main Rockets H-IIA/H3 (Release dated December 4, 2019)
*5 Regarding Space BD's "One-Stop Satellite Transport Service"
■Comment from Kohei Kojima, Senior Engineer at Space BD Co., Ltd.
First, I am deeply honored to have been able to support the satellite operators aboard the H3 Rocket Flight 6. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the business partners who collaborated with us on the development and implementation of the infrastructure, and to everyone involved with the H3 rocket (especially JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) for their cooperation in successfully completing the rideshare launch service for H3 Rocket Flight 6.
In this mission, in addition to providing launch slots, we undertook important initiatives for our rideshare launch service business, including the development and implementation of multi-satellite deployment infrastructure, ingenuity in testing approaches, and obtaining permits for the transport of satellites to the launch site. Although there were difficulties along the way, thanks to the warm and strong support from all stakeholders, we achieved the significant success of completing the first "Commercial Rideshare Launch Service" for a main rocket. We are immensely pleased and proud.
Leveraging this achievement, we will continue to contribute to the expansion of commercial utilization of space led by the private sector, and consequently, to the growth of the space industry.
■About Space BD Co., Ltd.
Space BD aims to develop Japan's space business into a world-leading industry as a "Space Trading Company®." Since its establishment in 2017, in addition to providing abundant transportation means to space, it offers one-stop services from business plan examination to technical operational support by its engineering department for the utilization of space, including the International Space Station (ISS).
Based on its sales and business development capabilities rooted in technological strength, its members with diverse career backgrounds are expanding their business into commercialization support and business transformation for government and private sectors utilizing space, as well as into the education field.
As of June 2026, Space BD has handled over 100 satellites, over 670 space experiment samples, and has accumulated achievements in over 40 in-space demonstration experiments.
Company Name: Space BD Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower 7F, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masatoshi Nagasaka, President and CEO
Established: September 1, 2017
Business Activities: Various services and education business in space
URL: https://www.space-bd.com/
FAQ
What is the most significant achievement by Space BD on H3 Rocket Flight 6?
The successful completion of the first "Commercial Rideshare Launch Service" for main rockets, marking a major step towards the commercialization of space utilization.
What specifically is a rideshare launch service?
It is a service where multiple satellites are launched simultaneously on a single rocket. Space BD provided integrated support, including infrastructure development and coordination.
How will this success impact Japan's space industry?
It is expected to reduce satellite launch costs, promote the expansion of space utilization by private companies, and revitalize the overall space industry.
What kind of company is Space BD?
It is a comprehensive space business service company, acting as a "Space Trading Company®" providing one-stop services from transportation to utilization support.
What is the future role of private companies in space development?
This success is expected to accelerate the trend of private companies playing a more significant role in space development and utilization.