November 29, 2022
Space BD Inc.

Space BD provides ISS external platform utilization
service to Sony
Succeeded in demonstrating wireless communication signal
reception in space
Used Japan’s first external operation systems for more efficient and easier on-orbit
demonstration
Tokyo — Space BD, a leading Japanese space startup, announces that it has provided theInternational Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experimental Module (Kibo) external platform utilization
service to Sony Group Corporation (Sony). Their mission was to demonstrate the compatibility of thewireless communication equipment for ELTRES™, a low-power wide-area (LPWA) communication
standard developed by Sony. Sony has successfully caught the signals and completed all demonstrationin orbit on October 27, 2022
Space BD’s external platform utilization service utilize the IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment
Platform (i-SEEP). i-SEEP makes demonstrations quicker, cheaper, and with lower risk than the one byusing satellites. The in orbit demonstrations requires the fundamental energy resources such as powerand communications. While satellite has taken the role as energy supplier, i-SEEP is able to provide theresource directly from the ISS.
Through this easy space utilization service Space BD will continue to expand its service offerings tolower the hurdle of access to space and encourage more people to utilize space.
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Space BD’s service for this projectSpace BD has provided the one-stop services necessary for this in-space demonstration, including

securing launch opportunities and ISS Kibo external platform utilization slots from JAXA, technicalcoordination, review of environmental test results, and governmental procedures.
For Sony’s wireless communication demonstration with i-SEEP, Space BD organized the optimal
demonstration environment that reduced the risk of power supply/communication problems in space.
This allowed the developer to focus on manufacturing the experiment equipment. Also, we could flexibly
respond to Sony's revised operation plan, including an extension of the exposure experiment period.
This is another advantage of using i-SEEP for the in-obit demonstration.In this project, Sony team has
used Japan’s first external operation systems. Previously, the communications to the ISS is strictly
limited, and only JAXA Flight Control Team at Tsukuba Space Center could reach the payload to getthe data. JAXA maintained the new external operation systems in April 2022, and Sony connected tothe ISS from the permitted location with Space BD as the point of contact.
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Demonstration of wireless experiment equipment compatible with ELTRES™
<Contact>
Space BD Inc.
Public Relations (Haruna Iizuka, Marin Hara)
Mail: pr@space-bd.com
Tel: +81-3-6264-7177

Sony has developed its own LPWA wireless communication standard, ELTRES™, and Sony Network
Communications Inc. provides a commercial service in Japan called the ELTRES IoT Network Service.
This demonstration experiment using i-SEEP showed that Sony’s original wireless experiment devicecompatible with ELTRES™ could receive radio waves sent from the ground to the International Space
Station where about 400km above earth.

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About IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform (i-SEEP)The IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform(i-SEEP) is JAXA’s Exposed Facility for Kibo. i-SEEP canprovide power and communications directly from the ISS
to the payloads.
Moreinfo

abouti-SEEP:

https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/biz-lab/experiment/facility/ef/i-seep/

i-SEEP (left) and image of i-SEEP with attached hardware (right)

Space BD was selected by JAXA as the sole commercial service provider for i-SEEP utilization in 2019.
Since then, Space BD has developed the utilization of i-SEEP in a wide range of fields in the global
market and expanded its services, including setting the external operation functions for users and JAXAfacilities. Space BD will continue to contribute to promoting the use of i-SEEP and the expansion of thespace industry through its specialized technical know-how and extensive business experience in thespace field.

For reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pphWgOuvGxM&t=72s2<Contact>Space BD Inc.
Public Relations (Marin Hara, Haruna Iizuka)
Mail: pr@space-bd.com
Tel: +81-3-6264-7177

■Comment from Yuki Toyoshhima, Engineer, Business Development at Space BD
We are very honored to have contributed to the success of the Sony Group's
ELTRES™ demonstration using our valuable space utilization asset, i-SEEP,
and Japan's first external operation system.
We continue to support the development of ELTRES™, a new communication
technology without geographical restriction. Meanwhile, we make spaceutilization easier for more people with i-SEEP, an asset full of potential.

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About Space BD

Space BD is a space business development firm that aims to be a company that represents Japan anddevelops a world-class industry. Since its foundation in 2017, Space BD has provided a one-stop service
from proposing business plans to providing engineering support regarding space utilization, including
the International Space Station (ISS). Space BD provides broad support as a space businessdevelopment firm with over 100 projects to date, including the handling of approximately 50 satellites.
URL: https://space-bd.com/

3<Contact>
Space BD Inc.
Public Relations (Marin Hara, Haruna Iizuka)
Mail: pr@space-bd.com
Tel: +81-3-6264-7177