Japan-Based Joint Venture Announced Between Axiom Space., Mitsui & Co.
A Japan-based joint venture to accelerate on-orbit services to commercial and government customers has been formed by Axiom Space and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. This unique partnership builds on both Axiom's in-space capabilities and Mitsui's global industrial reach.
"With Mitsui, we aim to accelerate the development of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and advanced materials that improve the quality of life on Earth."
Axiom Space Chief Business Officer Amir Blachman.
The agreement builds on the strategic partnership that the companies signed in September. Axiom and Mitsui have been meeting with and onboarding commercial customers in consumer electronics, entertainment, agri-tech, chem-tech, marketing/advertising and other sectors for the Japan-based joint venture. Discussions have also expanded to government organizations, space agencies and NGOs. With the increased volume of the partners' activity in Japan, they are establishing operations together to support the rapidly growing customer base.
"We recognized Mitsui's distinguished track record of creating global-scale industrial partnerships in the government and commercial sectors," said Axiom Space's Chief Business Officer Amir Blachman. "With Mitsui, we aim to accelerate the development of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and advanced materials that improve the quality of life on Earth. We will also integrate our companies' capabilities to answer the growing demand for on-orbit satellite deployment and servicing, cloud computing, entertainment and exploration systems in orbit."
"Mitsui took this step with Axiom because of its progress far ahead of other entities who have proposed to build space stations," said Mitsui & Co., Ltd., General Manager, Space Business Dept., Kazutomi Shigeeda. "Axiom's unique partnership with the ISS Program and physical connection to the ISS, its peerless leadership team, and progress with commercial and government customers, position Axiom to lead the future of industry in Low Earth Orbit and we have already started jointly to develop these large markets."
Together, the companies aim to build on that progress and execute a shared vision – to open space to a broad user base, providing data to help solve global-scale problems, create competitive products, and allow continued opportunities for countries to cooperate in space.
(Image provided with Axiom Space news release)