Termination of Commercial Operations of Microsatellite GRUS-1E in AxelGlobe

Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”) announces a malfunction has occurred in the attitude control system of the microsatellite “GRUS-1E,” which was launched on March 22, 2021 (JST) and is operated by Axelspace.

On the night of July 18, 2026, a malfunction occurred in the attitude control system of “GRUS-1E.” Axelspace conducted investigations to identify the cause while attempting system restoration. The investigation confirmed that the reaction wheels used for attitude control had failed, making it extremely difficult to restore three-axis attitude control.

The “GRUS-1” series was originally equipped with four reaction wheels and designed with redundancy to continue operations in the event of a single wheel failure. However, telemetry data indicates that two of the four reaction wheels likely failed. Consequently, we have determined that it is no longer feasible to continue stable commercial operations and have decided to terminate commercial operations for “GRUS-1E.” We will now proceed with the decommissioning process.

About Axelspace
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. Through these initiatives, Axelspace is shaping a future where space is accessible and within reach for everyone.

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