Microsatellites vary in length from about 10 to several dozen centimeters. They are drawing attention as their low cost offers new opportunities. Mini-rockets are made for such satellites.

Interstellar Technologies, a venture company in Hokkaido, northern Japan, is developing low-cost mini-rockets. The firm has just over 10 employees.

The company plans to carry out a test-launch in March, sending a rocket more than 100 kilometers above the Earth. If it is successful, this will be the first test-launch of a rocket developed solely by a private firm in Japan.

Tokyo-based Axelspace also has just over 10 employees. It plans to start a project this year to launch a total of 50 microsatellites that can photograph large areas of the Earth every day.

Takafumi Matsui is the deputy chief of the space policy committee set up by the Cabinet Office. Matsui says nurturing the space industry will be an important pillar of the Japanese government's policies as space technology can have practical applications for society.

Matsui says companies around the world view the launching of microsatellites as a promising business and he believes many Japanese firms can enter this sector.

He adds that training personnel in this field will be important.