Japanese space startup ArkEdge Space announced on Friday that a microsatellite it helped build for Taiwan’s space agency has produced high-quality Earth images that may be the best ever captured by a satellite smaller than a suitcase.
The small optical observation satellite, ONGLAISAT, achieved a 2.5-meter resolution from orbit approximately 400 kilometers above Earth after its December launch. “The pictures are as clear as aerial photography (despite) being taken by a satellite of this size,” said Takayoshi Fukuyo, CEO of ArkEdge, during a media briefing earlier this week. He noted that it was likely the highest-resolution imagery ever recorded by a small “cubesat.”
ArkEdge released black-and-white images captured by ONGLAISAT late last month, showcasing detailed views of locations such as a Seattle suburb and Argentina’s Patagonia region.
ONGLAISAT—short for “onboard globe-looking and imaging satellite”—is equipped with optical imaging technology from the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and co-developed by ArkEdge and a University of Tokyo aerospace lab. Its mission is expected to conclude in early March, though TASA stated the demonstrated optical technology will be applied to future remote sensing missions.
Taiwan is accelerating its space infrastructure efforts amid rising tensions with China. These initiatives include the launch of a domestically produced weather satellite in 2023 and ongoing discussions with Amazon to adopt its satellite internet service, Kuiper.
Taiwan’s space expansion has also deepened its collaboration with Japanese commercial space companies. TASA announced partnerships with Japanese startups such as Space One and ispace, a moon exploration company. Additionally, Taiwanese private company TiSpace, founded by a former TASA official, plans to test its rocket at a private launch pad in northern Japan this year.