[Satellite TODAY 03-22-13] Mitsubishi Electric has completed an expansion of its satellite production facility at the company’s Kamakura Works in Kamakura, Japan. Mitsubishi said the upgraded facility aims to double its annual satellite production capacity to eight satellites, the largest among all facilities operated by Japanese satellite manufacturers.

   “The global satellite market is showing increasing demand for communication and other purposes,” Mitsubishi Electric said in a company statement, referring to the Japanese government’s Basic Plan for Space Policy, announced in January, covering for five fiscal years beginning April 2013. The plan includes expanded use of space for telecommunications, broadcasting, positioning and remote sensing purposes for improved quality of life.

   Mitsubishi Electric has recently produced and delivered a variety of satellites, including: the meteorological satellite Himawari-7; the first Japan-made commercial communications satellite Superbird-C2; and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite-1 MICHIBIKI, which provides location-information services.