*This is a machine-translated text of the original article.

On April 15, Interstellar Technologies Inc (IST), Marubeni Corporation, D-Orbit SpA (D-Orbit) announced that on February 25 they signed an agreement on forming a business alliance in order to research and develop a small satellite launch system to be installed in the carrier rocket for an ultra-small artificial satellite.

Marubeni Corporation formed a business alliance with IST in 2016, outsourcing research to IST and proposing and selling rocket launch services to customers in Japan and overseas as a sales agent.

IST is a rocket developer and also a first private company in Japan that manufactures and develops MOMO, the first observation rocket in Japan to perform microgravity experiments, and ZERO, an orbital launch rocket for ultra-small satellites weighing up to 100kg and to an altitude of 100km, which is outer space.

Marubeni Corporation and IST formed a capital alliance in November 2019 to further strengthen partnership.

D-Orbit is an Italian new space company that conducts research and development focusing on the orbital transport of small satellite launch systems, servicing launch arrangements and orbit launches using the proprietary technique of InOrbit NOW.

Small satellites can also be accurately and stably orbited into the satellite’s orbit using a small satellite launch system according to the content of the customer’s mission.

Through this business alliance, we will further strengthen our cooperative relationship in the ultra-small satellite launch business, and propose and provide satellite launch services that utilize “ZERO” for a wide range of customers, including the European region.

By responding to the launch needs of small satellite operators, the company intends to contribute to the development of the space industry by improving its communications technology and earth observation technology.

Original Text: https://ampmedia.jp/2020/04/15/interstellar-technologies/