# Space Compass (NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT): orbital data center program

> Japan (Asia-Pacific), startup. 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 2025-04-14).

- Canonical page: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers/space-compass
- This Markdown version: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers/space-compass.md
- Data as of: 2026-10-05 (last evidence review)
- How the numbers are made: https://spacenexus.us/orbital-data-centers#method

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## Stage evidence

- Its ship-detection app ran on Loft Orbital YAM-6 with Microsoft, cutting downlinked data by 98.1% (reported 2025-04-14). Sources: [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/SpaceCompass_SpaceEdge_demo_with_Microsoft)

## Key figures

- Downlink data reduction in demo: 98.1 % (company claim). Sources: [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/SpaceCompass_SpaceEdge_demo_with_Microsoft)
- JAXA Space Strategy Fund award (up to; optical relay): 23.5 JPY billion. Sources: [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260422)

## Approach

- Orbit: GEO relay plus LEO and HAPS
- Architecture: Space Integrated Computing Network: multi-orbit optical network with in-orbit edge computing; first step is a GEO optical data relay
- Power: Not disclosed
- Cooling: Not disclosed
- Compute: Azure Orbital Space SDK apps on hosted compute (Loft YAM-6)
- Customers: EO operators (iQPS, Axelspace), national security

## Milestones

| Date | Status | Confidence | Milestone | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-05 | slipped | Reported | NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT plan space data centers: satellites in 2025, operations in 2026. This timeline slipped. | [Telecoms.com](https://www.telecoms.com/public-cloud/ntt-to-launch-data-centres-into-space-within-five-years) |
| 2025-04-14 | achieved | Confirmed | Orbital AI demo with Microsoft: ship detection run 40+ times, 98.1% downlink reduction | [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/SpaceCompass_SpaceEdge_demo_with_Microsoft) |
| 2026-03-23 | achieved | Confirmed | Contract with SWISSto12 for HummingSat GEO optical relay satellite | [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260323) |
| 2026-04-22 | achieved | Confirmed | Selected for JAXA Space Strategy Fund, up to JPY 23.5B through March 2031. For optical data relay. | [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260422) |

## Announced next steps (as the organisation stated them)

- Japanese FY2028 (by March 2029): Launch HummingSat GEO optical relay. Sources: [Via Satellite](https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2026/03/23/space-compass-purchases-first-optical-data-relay-satellite-from-swissto12/)
  - Slipped from satellites 2025, operations 2026 (2021 plan) to first relay satellite in FY2028. Source: [Telecoms.com](https://www.telecoms.com/public-cloud/ntt-to-launch-data-centres-into-space-within-five-years)
- undated: Combine optical relay with edge computing on future relay satellites. Sources: [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/SpaceCompass_SpaceEdge_demo_with_Microsoft)

## What to watch (SpaceNexus note, not a prediction)

HummingSat launch in Japanese FY2028.

## Funding

- 22 Apr 2026: JAXA Space Strategy Fund (up to, through March 2031; optical relay), JPY 23.5B. ceiling, not converted to USD. Sources: [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260422)

## Cautions

- The first dedicated satellite is a relay, not a compute node.

## People

- Hiromi Komatsu (Co-CEO)

## Sources

- [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/SpaceCompass_SpaceEdge_demo_with_Microsoft)
- [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260422)
- [Telecoms.com](https://www.telecoms.com/public-cloud/ntt-to-launch-data-centres-into-space-within-five-years)
- [SKY Perfect JSAT](https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en/news/20260323)
- [Via Satellite](https://www.satellitetoday.com/manufacturing/2026/03/23/space-compass-purchases-first-optical-data-relay-satellite-from-swissto12/)

## Licence and credits

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