QPS研究所 Company Profile

From Kyushu to Space! Towards the realization of a near real-time observation data provision service using a small SAR satellite constellation.

QPS Research Institute Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005 by a group of honorary professors from Kyushu University, a pioneering entity involved in satellite development and efforts to address space debris, aiming to establish the space industry in Kyushu. Currently, young engineers and entrepreneurs are working together to develop space technology based on a wide range of experiences and innovative ideas. In collaboration with local companies in the Kyushu region, the QPS Research Institute has developed and is currently operating a small SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite that achieves a resolution of 1 meter while weighing around 100 kg, which is about one-twentieth of the traditional mass and approximately one-hundredth of the cost. Radar satellites can observe the ground regardless of weather conditions or time of day, and there are plans to launch 36 satellites for simultaneous operation, aiming for near real-time observations every 10 minutes. The data obtained from these observations is expected to have a wide range of applications when combined with climate and economic data. Currently, two satellites are in operation, and in May 2021, the Izanami satellite successfully captured the highest resolution images in Japan for a commercial small SAR satellite, achieving a resolution of 70 cm.