Space Systems Command (SSC) successfully delivered the second and final spaceflight-ready payload to Japan, bolstering the U.S. Space Force’s contribution to integrated deterrence in the region and following through with Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations’ commitment to “Line Of Effort #3: Partner to Win”.
The two Space Force payloads, developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratories, will be hosted on Japan’s GEO-based Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The deliveries of both payloads to Japan follow a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two nations in December 2020. QZSS-HP is a pacesetting and pathfinding space cooperation initiative between the US and Japan.
The effort seeks to demonstrate the ability of the US-Japan alliance to extend to space; contribute toward the DoD’s broader integrated deterrence posture against shared adversaries in the Indo-Pacific theatre; contribute to the USSF’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA); and provide a basis for future opportunities with international partners.
The Hosted Payloads will augment the Space Force’s ability to conduct persistent, time-dominant volume searches in geosynchronous orbit. Launch dates for the host satellites, QZS-6 and QZS-7, have not yet been announced.
“QZSS-HP is paving the way for our space partnership efforts, as demonstrated by MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory and L3 Harris. Diversity of orbits, ground architectures, data paths, and host satellites is a distinct feature and distinct strength of the future architecture,” said Brig. Gen. Timothy Sejba, program executive officer for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power.
“Our ability to pivot our Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Architecture effectively depends on collaborative efforts with our Allies & Partners. Our Delta is grateful for the growing partnership between the US Space Force and Japan in this capability area. We are stronger together,” remarked Mr. F Schnell, director for the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Acquisition Delta, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. The Delta’s space-based SDA acquisition efforts, including QZSS-HP, are led by Mr. Jack Barnett.
U.S. Space Force’s Line of Effort #3, Partner to Win, was published in January 2023 by Gen. Saltzman. The general’s “C-Note” emphasizes that “Space Power is a collaborative endeavor. Even with superlative talent and exceptional capabilities, the Space Force will not succeed without robust joint, coalition, international, interagency, academic, and commercial partnerships.” In addition, “Partnering is not transactional. It is a deeper relationship built on trust and mutual benefit that ensures cooperation will continue even under geopolitical, financial, and adversarial stress.”
Space Systems Command is the US Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war-fighting capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages an $11 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, and academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
Click here to learn about Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).
