ISS Kibo deployment and exposed-platform service
Space BD is JAXA's commercial operator for releasing CubeSats and 50 kg satellites from the Japanese Kibo module on the space station, and for mounting equipment outside it, through 2030.
Why it matters
Deploying from the station is a cheap, gentle way to reach orbit for universities and startups, and exposing hardware outside the station lets them test parts in real space conditions and get them back.
How the technology works
Satellites ride to the station on supply spacecraft and are pushed out by Kibo's J-SSOD deployer. Equipment for exposure tests is mounted on the i-SEEP platform and can be returned to Earth.
Space BD handles customer integration; it says it has done this for approximately 50 satellites.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction