Mitsubishi Electric
Japanese electronics conglomerate that manufactures satellites, satellite components, and ground systems alongside
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, founded in 1921 and headquartered in Tokyo, manufactures electrical and electronic products across a wide range of sectors including defense and space systems, factory automation, automotive equipment, semiconductors, air conditioning, and building systems. In space, the company has participated in the production of Japanese and international satellites as prime contractor or major subcontractor, and developed DS2000, the first Japanese-made standard satellite platform, on which satellites are built to order to meet varying performance requirements. Satellite on-board equipment produced includes solar array panels, lithium-ion batteries, and RF equipment. Its US affiliate, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., markets this space hardware in North America alongside a Mobile Mapping System that uses car-mounted GPS antennas, laser scanners, and cameras to capture 3D road data for autonomous driving applications. The company's space software work traces back to a 1962 joint venture with TRW that later became Mitsubishi Space Software Co., Ltd., an 89%-owned subsidiary focused on space systems software and systems engineering.