株式会社QPS研究所
iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space) is a Japanese space startup and satellite manufacturer, founded in 2005 as a spin-off from Kyushu University. They specialize in developing and operating small, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites for Earth observation. iQPS aims to establish a constellation of 36 satellites to enable near-real-time monitoring of any location on Earth, with applications in disaster management and global-scale insights.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
iQPS plans to deploy 24 satellites in orbit by 2028 and 36 by 2030.
iQPS uses Electron to launch synthetic aperture radar satellites for Earth observation.
iQPS has booked 15 missions for the deployment of its QPS-SAR constellation.
Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher remains the primary launch vehicle for iQPS’s QPS-SAR satellites.
Rocket Lab added 3 Electron launches to its contract with iQPS (Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc.).
The updated Rocket Lab and iQPS agreement brings the total number of booked missions to 15.
Rocket Lab’s next launch for iQPS is scheduled no earlier than May 2026.
Rocket Lab is providing launch services for iQPS.
The planned Rocket Lab launch trajectory matches trajectories flown on launches for Synspective, iQPS, and BlackSky.
The HASTE trajectory for the DART-AE launch matched trajectories flown on launches for Synspective, iQPS, and BlackSky.
The Ministry of Defense’s satellite constellation project was awarded to a consortium comprising Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Synspective Inc., Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc., Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd., and Axelspace Corporation.
The constellation project was awarded to a consortium that includes Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Synspective, the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace, and Axelspace.
The Japan Ministry of Defense announced Axelspace, Synspective, SKY Perfect JSAT, Mitsui, and Mitsubishi Electric, along with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace and iQPS, last December as contract awardees to build Japan’s satellite constellation.
Rocket Lab successfully launched their "The Wisdom God Guides" mission with iQPS' QPS-SAR-15 satellite named "SUKUNAMI-I."
iQPS confirmed mission success with the deployment of its satellite.
The payload for the upcoming mission is expected to be QPS-SAR-15 for iQPS.
This mission for iQPS demonstrates the pinpoint accuracy required for customers to grow their constellations.
The successful launch of QPS-SAR-14 'YACHIHOKO-I' marks iQPS's fifth successful launch in 2025.
The Nation God Navigates was the sixth mission deployed on Electron for iQPS.
Rocket Lab plans six more Electron flights to further develop the iQPS constellation in low Earth orbit.