GRUS-3α Microsatellite Successfully Launched and First Signal Received

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 that the GRUS-3α microsatellite was successfully launched and that the company successfully received radio signals from the satellite in orbit.

GRUS-3α was integrated via Exolaunch and lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, on June 23, 2025 at 21:25 (UTC) during the Transporter-14 rideshare mission. The satellite was successfully placed into its intended orbit. On June 24, 2025 at 1:53 (UTC), Axelspace received the first radio signal on Earth from it in orbit.

The satellite is operating nominal and Axelspace will validate and evaluate the performance of the satellite bus system and mission equipment. The results will be fed into the development of the next-generation Earth observation microsatellites, GRUS-3, scheduled to launch in 2026.

The former announcements regarding the launch of GRUS-3α can be found here:
Launch Date Confirmed for GRUS-3α Microsatellite
Updated Launch Date for GRUS-3α Microsatellite

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/