Synspective CEO Motoyuki Arai. Photo: Synspective

Japanese startup Synspective has had a busy summer as the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) company ramps up its constellation deployment. In June, Synspective announced a $44 million Series C round, and it became Rocket Lab’s largest launch customer to date, purchasing a block of 10 launches. Last month, Synspective saw the launch of its fifth SAR satellite. 

The company, based in Tokyo, is building a SAR constellation that can capture data of Earth through cloud cover and at night. With a current constellation of four satellites (its first demonstration satellite completed its mission), Synspective plans to have a 30-satellite constellation by the late 2020s. 

Via Satellite interviewed Synspective founder and CEO Dr. Motoyuki Arai about the company’s recent milestones, the market for SAR data, and its position in the Japanese startup space market. 

VIA SATELLITE: Congratulations on the recent Series C funding round. How do you plan to use the capital to scale Synspective’s operations? 

Arai: Synspective will use the new capital to develop, manufacture, launch, and operate our SAR satellites, prepare mass production facilities, develop satellite data solutions, and expand globally, driving further business growth.

VIA SATELLITE: Your recent launch contract with Rocket Lab is the launcher’s largest launch contract to date. Why did you choose Rocket Lab to deploy the constellation? 

Arai: Rocket Lab has been our launch partner for five successful launches, proving the reliability of its technology. Additionally, its rockets are designed to launch one satellite at a time, allowing us to control each satellite’s launch schedule and the precise deployment parameters. It is also important to note that during past launches of the StriX satellite, Electron’s fairing was customized to accommodate our satellite.

VIA SATELLITE: What does Synspective’s customer base look like geographically? Are customers mostly located in Japan, Asia, or around the world? 

Arai: We have established distributor and strategic partnerships with governments and companies across 20 countries and regions. Our customers are mainly in Japan, but we are expanding to the global market through partnerships.

VIA SATELLITE: What is the most popular use case for Synspective’s data? Why? 

Arai: Despite broad applicability, SAR data is mainly used for security and disaster analysis. This is due to unstable international affairs and the increasing number of disasters caused by climate change. 

Synspective has been observing and analyzing areas affected by multiple earthquakes and floods using our SAR satellite, StriX. We have provided these images to governments and private companies to support their disaster response and recovery efforts. Other examples of SAR use in embankment and infrastructure-related applications are increasing.

One recent example is on August 16, a devastating flood affected Thame Village in the Solukhumbu Region in Nepal. Authorities requested Synspective provide imagery and analysis in support of rescue efforts. StriX collected data on August 17 and sent it to the Nepal government with our land displacement analysis. Our Land Displacement Monitoring (LDM) solution shows possible deformation from July 2024 that could have led to this glacier lake outburst flood. 

VIA SATELLITE: How is Synspective’s SAR data used for sustainability? 

Arai: Synspective’s SAR data provides valuable insights and actionable intelligence that support various aspects of sustainability — from environmental and disaster management to urban planning and agriculture — by offering accurate, reliable, and timely information.

Understanding the global environment is essential for sustainable growth. We need to progress progressively in developing a cycle of describing the situation with objective and fair data, assessing risks through extensive data analysis, and formulating scientific and collective measures to deal with any problem. We believe this can be achieved through a new infrastructure — a constellation of satellites that provides an efficient bird’s-eye view of the Earth and the analytics of the vast amount of data obtained from this constellation.

VIA SATELLITE: How does the company have a unique perspective on sustainability, being based in Japan? 

Arai: Japan is highly susceptible to natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons. This heightened risk has led to a societal and governmental focus on disaster preparedness and resilience. Synspective’s SAR technology significantly contributes to disaster monitoring and response, providing critical data even in adverse weather conditions and at night, which traditional optical satellites cannot achieve as effectively.

Japan has a strong tradition of technological innovation and excellence in engineering. Synspective leverages this cultural and industrial backdrop to advance our satellite technology and data analytics capabilities. Also, the Japanese government supports initiatives that align with its national interests in sustainability and disaster management. We benefit from policies and programs that encourage innovation in these areas.

VIA SATELLITE: How do you see the competition among SAR imagery providers? 

Arai: Currently, there are only a small number of SAR satellites in operation, and the barriers to entering the SAR industry are high. However, there is a growing demand for SAR imagery across various sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, defense, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental monitoring. 

Also, continuous improvements in SAR technology, such as higher resolution, faster revisit times, and enhanced data analytics, drive market growth. As technology evolves, new applications and use cases will emerge, creating opportunities for additional providers.

VIA SATELLITE: Do you see Synspective as a leader for space startups in Japan?  

Arai: Six years have passed since our establishment in 2018. During that time, we launched five satellites without any failure, and our technology and services have continued to grow since the company’s inception. Our total funding for third-party allotment was 28.1 billion yen ($200 million) and 8.3 billion yen ($59 million) for loan contracts. This is an unprecedented success as a space startup in Japan and globally. We have employees from over 25 countries, making our decision diverse and unique from other Japanese startups.