CHIBA, Japan (Dec.16) – Pale Blue will conduct an in-orbit demonstration of its Hall thruster in 2027. We have signed a demonstration contract with Axelspace Corporation(Axelspace), which provides in-orbit demonstration services, effective December 16, 2025.

 

Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace (right in photo), and Jun Asakawa, Co-founder & CEO of Pale Blue.

 

Pale Blue will perform an in-orbit demonstration of its instantly ignitable compact Hall thruster, the “PBH-100,” in 2027. The “PBH-100” is a thruster designed for 50-200kg class satellites that achieves an optimal balance of high thrust and high specific impulse. Its key feature is a significantly reduced startup time compared to conventional small satellite Hall thrusters, maximizing the operation time for the satellite’s mission equipment.

Axelspace provides end-to-end support for the in-orbit demonstration of space components through its “AxelLiner Laboratory” service, utilizing versatile microsatellite bus technology to cover everything from integrating demonstration equipment and providing launch opportunities to offering operational assistance. Pale Blue will utilize Axelspace’s service and conduct the in-orbit validation by integrating the “PBH-100” onto a microsatellite developed by Axelspace.

Pale Blue has been involved in the development and manufacturing of thrusters for micro satellites built by Axelspace. The companies have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing future collaboration.

 

 

Comment from Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace

We are delighted to announce our agreement with Pale Blue to perform the critical in-orbit demonstration of their compact Hall thruster, executing this technology validation utilizing our proprietary AxelLiner Laboratory platform. By facilitating the rapid path to orbit and offering our extensive expertise—derived from our own experience as a satellite component user—we are actively supporting Pale Blue’s efforts to accelerate their global business expansion.

 

Comment from Jun Asakawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Pale Blue

We are deeply honored to have signed a demonstration contract with Axelspace for the 2027 in-orbit demonstration of our compact Hall thruster, “PBH-100.” We will validate the product’s key features—high thrust, high specific impulse, and rapid startup performance—in space. Through this demonstration, we aim to further deepen the strong partnership we have built with Axelspace through the development and manufacturing of propulsion systems, and contribute to the expansion of the small satellite market.

 

About Axelspace Corporation

Guided by its vision—“Space within Your Reach”—Axelspace has been at the forefront of microsatellite innovation since its founding in 2008. Leveraging cutting-edge expertise in microsatellite design, manufacturing, and on-orbit operations, the company is redefining how people and industries access space. Its flagship businesses, AxelLiner, which provides satellite development and operation services to help customers realize their space missions, and AxelGlobe, which delivers Earth observation data through Axelspace’s proprietary optical satellite constellation, are driving a new era of space utilization.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
President and CEO: Yuya Nakamura
Founded: August 2008
Website：https://www.axelspace.com/

 

About Pale Blue

Pale Blue develops and manufactures propulsion systems (engines) for small satellites, serving satellite integrators and operators worldwide. Since its founding in 2020, Pale Blue has successfully achieved in-orbit operations of propulsion systems a number of times, providing highly reliable solutions. While further expanding its product offering through R&D and in-orbit demonstrations, Pale Blue is also strengthening production capabilities to meet the growing demand for propulsion systems. Pale Blue is committed to creating mobility that is core to the space industry, driving the next generation of space development.

Website：https://pale-blue.co.jp/

 

Contact

pr@pale-blue.co.jp