Launch Date Confirmed for GRUS-3α Microsatellite

Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a pioneer of the development and operation of microsatellites to promote a society where space is accessible to people around the world, today announced the liftoff of the GRUS-3α microsatellite is targeted for June 22, 2025 at 21:18 (UTC).

The launch of GRUS-3α is scheduled as follows:
Date & Time: June 22, 2025 at 21:18 (UTC)
Site: Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA
Operator: SpaceX
Vehicle: Falcon 9
Mission: Transporter-14
Launch integrator: Exolaunch
Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit

Axelspace began to develop GRUS-3α last year and shipped its completed flight model to the launch site in May 2025.

GRUS-3α is a microsatellite developed primarily to validate the performance of the optical system, including the telescope and the detector, that will be used in the next-generation Earth observation microsatellites, GRUS-3, scheduled for launch in 2026. It will also be used to validate the in-orbit performance of the versatile satellite bus system for our developing 100 kg-class microsatellites.

The development and validation of a versatile satellite bus system for GRUS-3 and GRUS-3α missions are based on results obtained through the following projects subsidized by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization).
“Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose CubeSat and Microsatellite Buses” (FY2023-2026)
*This project was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (FY2021-2022)

About Axelspace
With the vision of “Space within Your Reach,” we have been pioneering the development of microsatellites since our founding in 2008. We have two businesses: AxelLiner, where we develop and operate microsatellites for customers’ space missions, and AxelGlobe, where we provide Earth observation data through our proprietary optical satellite constellation. Leveraging our unique technology in microsatellite design, manufacturing, and in-orbit operations, we offer solutions to meet the needs in a variety of industries. Through these businesses, we aim to create a society where space is accessible to people around the world.

Axelspace Corporation
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
President: Yuya Nakamura
Founded: August 2008
https://www.axelspace.com/en/