Kita 36, 53

Kita 53 [SpaceX]

Kita-36 and Kita-53 are two technology demonstration satellites developed for Sony Space Communications Corporation (Sony SCC), Japan, to validate compact laser communication technology in low Earth orbit. The satellites, each with a mass of more than 50 kg, were built on the Corvus satellite platform supplied by U.S.-based Astro Digital. They were launched in July 2026 aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17 rideshare mission.

The mission demonstrates Sony SCC's optical communication terminals, which are designed to provide high-speed data transmission using laser links instead of conventional radio-frequency communications. The satellites will perform optical communication experiments with ground stations as well as inter-satellite laser links, validating the technology in operational conditions.

Sony Space Communications Corporation was established in 2022 to commercialize optical communication technology following successful demonstrations between the International Space Station and a ground station in Japan. The new terminals are intended to be smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient than existing laser communication systems, making them suitable for small satellite platforms.

Laser communication is increasingly viewed as an important solution for future satellite constellations, offering significantly higher data rates while reducing dependence on the increasingly congested radio-frequency spectrum. By enabling compact optical terminals for small satellites, Sony aims to expand the use of high-speed laser communications across commercial low Earth orbit missions. According to the company, customers for the terminals have already been secured, although no details have been disclosed.