2025 Activity Report vol.30:Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan

From February 2 to 11, 2026, the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) hosted the Sakura Science Exchange Program C: Science and Technology Training Course entitled “Technical Training on the Development, Operation, and Practical Use of Earth Observation Small Satellites.”

A total of ten researchers participated in the program. They were affiliated with Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology and the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (Tanzania); Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (Côte d'Ivoire); Kenya Space Agency and Wildlife Research and Training Institute (Kenya); and Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute and University of Ghana (Ghana).

This program was designed for researchers from African institutions that are participating in, or considering participation in, the international BIRDS Project, which has been led by Kyushu Institute of Technology since 2016 to collaboratively develop nanosatellites with developing countries. The objective of the training was to cultivate highly capable researchers who could become future leaders in the space sector of their respective countries. Through the program, participants were expected to acquire fundamental technologies necessary for utilizing small satellites for Earth observation, including the development of Earth observation sensors, methods for integrating sensors into small satellites, operation of ground observation systems, and techniques for analyzing and utilizing Earth observation satellite data. The program also aimed to enhance participants' motivation to promote small satellite development. For the host institution, the training served as an opportunity to promote satellite remote sensing technologies in African countries and to establish a foundation for advancing international knowledge exchange with researchers across Africa.

During the program, RESTEC provided lectures and practical training on the principles of Earth observation using satellite remote sensing, the use of satellite data for problem solving and international cooperation, and techniques for visualizing satellite remote sensing data. In addition, with the cooperation of external organizations, participants attended lectures and facility tours related to Earth observation data reception at the JAXA Earth Observation Center and Tokyo Denki University. Kyushu Institute of Technology delivered lectures on the development and testing of nanosatellites, while ArkEdge Space Inc. and Synspective Inc. provided lectures on the development, operation, and services of small Earth observation satellites. These activities offered participants valuable opportunities to gain exposure to a broad range of knowledge and technologies.

To deepen participants' understanding of Japan, cultural experiences were also incorporated into the program. These included a traditional Japanese tea ceremony experience and a hands-on workshop in traditional Japanese papermaking (washi). The mayor of Hatoyama Town in Saitama Prefecture also joined the tea ceremony session, where participants exchanged views on the natural and cultural resources of Hatoyama. During the papermaking workshop, participants first attended a lecture on the traditional methods of producing washi and then carefully created their own sheets of paper while learning the techniques step by step.

Throughout the program, the trainees showed strong interest in Japan's technologies for small satellite development and Earth observation. They actively engaged in discussions with lecturers and fellow participants on potential applications in their own countries, including the development and operation of small Earth observation satellites and collaboration among institutions in different countries. In particular, during the discussion session held on the ninth day of the training, participants explored ways to make effective use of the knowledge gained from the program. They agreed to remain in contact after returning home and to consult with colleagues at their respective institutions in order to continue collaborative activities initiated through this program.

Through this program, it is hoped that the participants have gained a deeper understanding that satellite development contributes to the acquisition of Earth observation data and the resolution of various societal challenges. It is also expected that they will participate in developing small Earth observation satellites through the BIRDS Project and continue technical cooperation with Japan in areas such as satellite data utilization in the future.