Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) decided to invest in D-Orbit S.p.A. (hereinafter, “D-Orbit”), an Italian provider of logistics services for satellites, and signed an investment agreement with the company on November 9, 2023. The investment is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, after obtaining the necessary permits and approvals. Marubeni is the lead investor in D-Orbit’s Series C round, that includes other Italian, European, and international investors, expected to exceed a total of 100 million euros.

The space business covers a wide range of areas, including the manufacture of satellites and their components, the manufacture and launch of rockets, satellite services such as satellite communications and Earth observation, space exploration including the Moon and Mars, deep space exploration, space stations, and space travel. Projections for the space sector indicate an upward trajectory from $270 billion in 2014 to an estimated figure of $546 billion by the close of 2023, with the potential to surpass $1 trillion mark by 2040. This market expansion has led to a rapid increase in the number of satellites, which in turn has increased demand for satellite services, including access to space.

To this end, D-Orbit has developed its own orbital transfer vehicle ION Satellite Carrier. ION is designed to accommodate multiple small satellites and provides last-mile satellite delivery services, positioning payloads from customer into their required orbits. Additionally, ION is capable of accommodating various third-party payloads, including innovative technologies from startups, experiments from research entities, and instruments from traditional space companies seeking in-orbit testing. ION can also be leased for edge computing applications and space cloud services, offering satellite operators storage capacity and advanced computing capabilities in orbit. As importantly, D-Orbit's roadmap includes a significant role in the in-orbit servicing market, projected to become one of the fastest-growing sectors within the space industry. 
Through this investment, Marubeni will participate in the management of D-Orbit by appointing a director of D-Orbit’s Board of Directors and seconding an employee and will expand the scope of exclusive agency mandate for services provided by D-Orbit, which were acquired for Japan as from 2021, to Southeast Asia. It will also utilize its global network to expand services to satellite operators worldwide. 

Marubeni, together with D-Orbit, aims to become a total solution provider for satellites, providing services such as orbit insertion, operational support, life extension, and de-orbit in the long-term perspective.

Furthermore, with the rapid increase in the number of satellite launches, Marubeni will contribute to the sustainability and greening of space by providing not only orbit insertion and operational support, which are expected to be in high demand, but also services for satellites such as life extension and debris removal.

Overview of D-Orbit
Location:	Viale Risorgimento 57, 22073 - Fino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Company Name:	D-Orbit S.p.A.
Established:	2011
Representative:	Luca Rossettini
Main Business:	D-Orbit is the global market leader in the space logistics and transportation service industries with a track record of space-proven technologies, successful missions, and customer outcomes. The company has developed proprietary space logistics technology and transportation solutions to accelerate the growth and development of a trillion-dollar space economy through an incremental strategic approach to the space marketplace to deliver successful customer outcomes today while developing advanced products and services for the needs of tomorrow.
Website:	https://www.dorbit.space/

Related Press Releases
・Feb. 25, 2021
Commercial Partnership with D-Orbit for Small Satellite Launch Services
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2021/release/00016.html

・Apr. 14, 2020
Business Partnership for a Small Satellite Launch Business
https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2020/release/20200414E.pdf