This confirms the successful participation of the Japanese satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT accompanying the NASA Artemis II mission, which started 1 April 2026 year.
The company became the only private firm in Asia, chosen by NASA to ground track the Orion spacecraft during its historic journey around the Moon.
Mission details and role of SKY Perfect JSAT:
Launch and first signals: After the successful launch of the SLS rocket, SKY Perfect JSAT specialists have started receiving signals. Already in the first days of April 2026 In 2016, the company's ground stations recorded radio waves from Orion, which confirmed a stable connection during the initial phase of the mission.
Measurement of the Doppler effect: The main task of the company is passive tracking of Orion radio signals and one-way Doppler measurements (frequency offset measurement). This data is transmitted to NASA to refine the trajectory and speed of the ship.
Technical equipment: For this task, the operator uses three antenna systems with a diameter of 13,5 meters, located in their Japanese headquarters.
Duration of support: SKY Perfect JSAT will accompany Orion during the entire 10-day mission — from entering lunar orbit to reentry and landing in the Pacific Ocean.
This collaboration is part of a wider network of 34 organizations in 14 countries, which help NASA collect telemetry data to ensure the safety of the crew of four astronauts.
Source: https://spacemedia.jp