Mitsubishi Electric Space

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation's Space Systems division (commonly known in the industry as MELCO Space), headquartered in Tokyo and part of the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation founded in 1921, is Japan's largest satellite manufacturer and a critical component of Japan's space industrial base — producing Earth observation, communications, and navigation satellites for JAXA, the Japanese government, and international customers.

MELCO's Earth observation satellite portfolio is anchored by the ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) series for JAXA: ALOS-1 'Daichi' (launched 2006) combined PRISM panchromatic stereo imaging at 2.5m, AVNIR-2 multispectral at 10m, and PALSAR L-band SAR to create Japan's most capable remote sensing satellite to that date; ALOS-2 'Daichi-2' (2014) carries the upgraded PALSAR-2 L-band SAR providing 1-3 meter high resolution SAR imagery for disaster monitoring, deforestation detection, and agriculture; and ALOS-3 (planned for optical VHR imagery) and ALOS-4 (L-band SAR) continue the program. ALOS satellites have been particularly important for disaster response across Asia-Pacific, with PALSAR providing all-weather, day-night SAR coverage during typhoon flooding, earthquake damage assessment, and volcanic activity monitoring.

MELCO is the prime contractor and manufacturer for Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) — a four-satellite regional navigation constellation (now expanding to seven satellites) providing GPS augmentation and independent positioning for Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. QZSS uses Michibiki satellites in quasi-zenith orbits that remain nearly overhead Japan for extended periods, improving GPS availability in urban canyons and mountainous terrain where buildings and mountains block low-elevation GPS satellites.

MELCO also manufactures commercial GEO communications satellites for international operators and supplies satellite components — solar arrays, thermal control panels, and attitude control systems — to other satellite manufacturers. MELCO competes globally with Boeing Satellite Systems, Thales Alenia Space, and Airbus Defence & Space for commercial GEO contracts.