Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said it will boost sales of rocket parts sales to companies in the United States, aiming to more than double revenue at its space unit.

MHI, which launched its first commercial satellite last month, plans to increase sales to ¥100 billion in the next 10 years from about ¥50 billion at present, according to Shoichiro Asada, head of the firm's space systems operations.

The company will increase sales of engine parts and tanks for the Delta and Atlas launch vehicles of United Launch Alliance LLC, a Boeing Co.-Lockheed Martin Corp. venture. The major maker of trains, ships and planes is also seeking to launch more commercial satellites to compete with Europe's Ariane and Russia's Proton rocket systems to pare reliance on Japan government contracts.