Space BD

About Space BD

Space BD Inc. is a Japanese space services company established in September 2017 with the mission of contributing to the industrialization of space. The company was co-founded by Masatoshi Nagasaki, who serves as the CEO. Before Space BD, Nagasaki founded Nagasaki & Co. in 2014, focusing on business development in the education sector, and previously spent 11 years at Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in the steel and mineral resources industries. His background in business development is now applied to the space sector.

Space BD positions itself as a "space trading company," offering one-stop services to lower the barriers to space access. The firm was selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the commercial service provider for deploying satellites from the International Space Station's (ISS) "Kibo" module and for the use of its external platform. This partnership with JAXA has been a cornerstone of the company's growth.

The company's business model is centered on providing comprehensive solutions across the space value chain. Key services include satellite launch services via rockets and the ISS, in-orbit demonstration support, and procurement of space components. They serve a diverse client base, including satellite developers, universities, research institutions, and private companies, both in Japan and globally. One of their notable services is facilitating protein crystal growth experiments in the microgravity of the ISS, which has applications in pharmaceutical research and drug discovery. In recent developments, Space BD signed a contract with Japan's Ministry of Defense in May 2025 to launch an optical satellite. As of April 2025, the company has supported over 90 satellite projects and managed more than 610 space transport missions.

The company has successfully raised capital to fund its expansion, including a JPY 1.04 billion ($9.2 million) round in December 2021 with investors like Pavilion Capital, a unit of Singapore's Temasek Holdings. This funding is directed towards expanding global launch options, including a contract with SpaceX, and strengthening its workforce.