The global competition to develop microsatellites was triggered by the successful launch in 2003 of a microsatellite developed by Japanese university students. Convinced that microsatellites offered future promise, Axelspace’s founding members founded Axelspace in 2008.
Since the launch of Weathernews' WNISAT-1 satellite in 2013, eleven satellites have been launched and operated in total. Not only that, we launched the AxelGlobe business in 2019, and we are also engaged in a service business using satellite images.
WNISAT-1
First commercial micro-satellite owned by
private meteorological company.
For
Weathernews Inc.
Launched in November
2013
HODOYOSHI-1
Future of remote sensing by
micro-satellites.
With The University
of Tokyo
Launched in November 2014
WNISAT-1R
Latest environmental information from space
- iceberg, typhoon and volcano.
For
Weathernews Inc.
Launched in July 2017
RAPIS-1
Start point into space.
For Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency
Launched
in January 2019
GRUS-1
Watch the Earth by next-generation remote
sensing satellites.
For Axelspace
Corporation
Launched in December 2018
(1A) and in March 2021 (1B, 1C, 1D, 1E)
PYXIS
Compass to navigate the path of future
businesses with satellites.
For
Axelspace Corporation and Sony Group
Corporation
Launched in March 2024
GRUS-3α
Advancing Earth observation capabilities—for
the next generation.
For Axelspace
Corporation
Launched in June 2025
