Warpspace has signed a strategic partnership agreement with LatConnect 60 Ltd. to create a mechanism to monitor carbon emissions from space efficiently and in very high resolution.
LatConnect 60 Ltd. is developing a constellation of satellites to measure carbon emission concentrations from space, with the sensitivity to pick up emission flow rates as low as 50kg/hr and higher. The first satellite is scheduled to be launched into LEO in the second half of 2025.
Warpspace is developing a nexgen space communications network, “WarpHub InterSat,” to promote “visualization” of the Earth. In this network, a data relay satellite placed in the MEO, wherein satellites in this orbit have more visibility to the Earth’s ground stations, serves as a “hub.”
The relay satellites receive data from the customer’s satellite via optical lasers and transmit the data to the ground one after another. As a result, the customer can obtain a larger volume of data more quickly than with conventional communication methods. This system is expected to be especially useful when highly accurate data is needed as soon as possible, such as disaster prevention.
The network is also expected to effectively observe “gases,” such as carbon dioxide and methane, whose distribution and conditions change over time. LatConnect 60 will work in partnership with Warpspace to monitor the emission and distribution of greenhouse gases so that companies and local governments can take appropriate countermeasures.
As a first step, the two companies will select the most suitable optical communication terminal for the LatConnect60’s observation satellite and integrate it with the ground system. Furthermore, through this strategic partnership agreement, the two companies will collaborate in approaching government agencies and other stakeholders in the Japanese and Australian markets. Last year, Warpspace opened a subsidiary in Washington D.C., and this year Warpspace is establishing a base in Europe.
“Global warming derived from greenhouse gases is an urgent issue for the entire planet, with the MIT Climate Clock warning of a 1.5 degree Celsius climate change in the following decade if emissions are not significantly reduced by 2030. I feel a great sense of significance and mission for having been given the opportunity to take on this major challenge that affects everyone, including myself, together, and for agreeing to expand this circle of collaboration worldwide. We are very pleased to have agreed to collaborate with LatConnect 60.“
— Hirokazu Mori, Chief Strategy Officer of Warpspace and CEO of WARPSPACE USA
Warpspace is a space tech startup in Tsukuba, the hometown of Japanese aerospace development, developing an optical inter-satellite data relay service in medium Earth orbit called “WarpHub InterSat.” The main customers are Earth observation satellite operators that need to quickly move large volumes of data from space to the ground at the very time when they need it. Combining both heritages from JAXA and OICETS projects and supply chain innovations in NewSpace, Warpspace aims to become the world’s first private company to provide an optical communication network in space.
LatConnect 60 is a growth stage space technology company in Perth, Western Australia that generates vital insights from earth observation data. LatConnect 60 brings together deep industry knowledge and vital insights to create products and services to empower government and commercial clients. LatConnect 60 has developed its proprietary EONET platform to acquire & process data from a wide range of Earth Observation (EO) satellites to generate insights in the areas of Agriculture and Environment, Sustainability & Governance (ESG). LatConnect 60 will be launching its own constellation of ESG-focused satellites, HyperSight 60, with anticipated operations starting in Q3 2025 and onwards.