Startup · Japan (Asia-Pacific)
株式会社Space Compass
Its ship-detection app ran on Loft Orbital YAM-6 with Microsoft, cutting downlinked data by 98.1% (reported 14 Apr 2025). Its next announced step is launch HummingSat GEO optical relay, stated as Japanese FY2028 (by March 2029).
Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown
Its ship-detection app ran on Loft Orbital YAM-6 with Microsoft, cutting downlinked data by 98.1% (reported 14 Apr 2025).[1]
What the stage means: Compute or storage flown as a hosted payload or on the ISS. What flew here is software only.
SlippedReported
NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT plan space data centers: satellites in 2025, operations in 2026
This timeline slipped.
Source: Telecoms.com
DoneConfirmed
Orbital AI demo with Microsoft: ship detection run 40+ times, 98.1% downlink reduction
Source: SKY Perfect JSAT
DoneConfirmed
Contract with SWISSto12 for HummingSat GEO optical relay satellite
Source: SKY Perfect JSAT
DoneConfirmed
Selected for JAXA Space Strategy Fund, up to JPY 23.5B through March 2031
For optical data relay.
Source: SKY Perfect JSAT
Targets as the organisation stated them. When a date moved, every move is listed with its source; a narrower window is shown as a narrowing.
Japanese FY2028 (by March 2029)Slipped once
Launch HummingSat GEO optical relay[1]
Moved: satellites 2025, operations 2026 (2021 plan) to first relay satellite in FY2028[1]
undated
Combine optical relay with edge computing on future relay satellites[1]
What to watch · SpaceNexus note, not a prediction
HummingSat launch in Japanese FY2028.
| Figure | Value | Confidence and source |
|---|---|---|
| Downlink data reduction in demo | 98.1 % | Company claim[1] |
| JAXA Space Strategy Fund award (up to; optical relay) | 23.5 JPY billion | Reported[1] |
Rounds come from company announcements, regulatory filings and press reports. Amounts, valuations and investors are as reported and may be incomplete or later revised. Not investment advice, and not an offer or solicitation for any security. Full disclaimer
| Date | Round | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | JAXA Space Strategy Fund (up to, through March 2031; optical relay). Led by JAXACeiling, not converted to USD.Public money, not equity; not in the total.[1] | JPY 23.5B |
Hiromi Komatsu (Co-CEO)
| Program | Stage | Verified funding | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Compass (this page) | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | Japanese FY2028: Launch HummingSat GEO optical relay |
| AWS | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| Astro Digital | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | Q1 2027: SPAC close and Nasdaq listing |
| Axiom Space | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | 2027: AxODC Node ISS (petabyte-class, optical link) delivered to the ISS |
| Booz Allen | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| D-Orbit | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
| Edge Aerospace | Stage 4 of 7: Payload demo flown | Not counted | None announced |
Evidence reviewed 5 Oct 2026, fact-checked against primary sources. Nothing on this page is sponsored, and no company can pay to change, reorder or preview it. Spotted an error? Report a correction. How stages and labels work.
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