US & Japan Launch Satellite
The US Space Force and Japan have launched a new satellite to boost surveillance across the Pacific, as part of a bilateral program to strengthen surveillance capabilities, with the US payload designed and built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory
The US Space Force and Japan have launched a new satellite to boost surveillance across the Pacific and beyond. The launch is part of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload program, a bilateral US-Japan cooperative effort built specifically around national security.
The US payload was carried aboard Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7, launched from Tanegashima Space Center. The payload will be operated by Combat Forces Command's Mission Delta 2, a unit that identifies and tracks objects across contested orbital terrain. Mission Delta 2 is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado and maintains a presence at 11 separate operating locations worldwide.
The US payloads under the program were designed and built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Japanese host satellites were provided by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Kamakura. The program is the result of a December 2020 agreement between the US and Japan to jointly execute the hosted-payload program.
The launch marks the second and final launch under the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload program. The payload will deliver near real-time data to the Space Surveillance Network, expanding awareness of the geosynchronous orbit above the Indo-Pacific.
## Why it matters The launch of the new satellite is significant as it strengthens surveillance capabilities across the Pacific region and beyond. The US and Japan have been working together to enhance national security, and this bilateral program is evidence of a maturing alliance built around shared interests. The ability to track objects in real-time will provide valuable insights for the Space Surveillance Network, allowing for better awareness of the geosynchronous orbit above the Indo-Pacific.
## What happens next The payload is expected to be fully operational soon, delivering near real-time data to the Space Surveillance Network. With the completion of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload program, the US and Japan will continue to work together to enhance national security and strengthen their alliance. The success of this program demonstrates the potential for future bilateral cooperation in space exploration and national security.
