Japan: Decades of Research and OHISAMA
What has Japan contributed, and what is the status of its orbital demonstration?
Chapter summary
Japan has the longest continuous SBSP research programme, led by JAXA, universities and industry.
Key takeaways
- 1
It demonstrated precise microwave beam control on the ground in the 2010s and, through the OHISAMA project led by Japan Space Systems with JAXA, beamed microwaves from an aircraft to ground receivers over several kilometres in December 2024.
- 2
An orbital demonstration with a small satellite has been planned; secondary reports in 2026 describe a test delivering about a kilowatt, but Setcoin did not find confirmation from JAXA.
- 3
Japan's programme emphasises retrodirective beam control, in which the receiver sends a pilot signal that the transmitter locks onto, a key safety feature.
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