ArkEdge Space

Last updated

ArkEdge Space
Formerly
  • Space Edge Lab
Company type Private
Industryaerospace
Founded2018
FounderTakayoshi Fukuyo
FateActive
Headquarters
Kōtō, Tokyo
,
Japan
Productsnanosatellites
Website arkedgespace.com

ArkEdge Space is a spaceflight company focusing on the development and operation of small satellites. The company manufactures CubeSats and microsatellites for both government and private customers. [1] [2] ArkEdge Space plans to operate several satellite constellations, including one consisting of VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) satelllites. [3]

Contents

The company has ties to the University of Tokyo Intelligent Space Systems Laboratory, which developed the XI-IV satellite. XI-IV was launched on 30 June 2003, becoming the world's first CubeSat to successfully function in orbit. [4] [5]

History

The founder of ArkEdge Space, Takayoshi Fukuyo began his career in the field of international cooperation and forest surveys. [6] [7] As a student, Fukuyo studied the Amazon rainforest, and in 2004 he joined the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where he was dispatched to Brazil as a JICA expert, working on the planning of national parks. [8] [9] Fukyo used satellite remote sensing such as Landsat to track land usage, and recognized the difficulty in developing infrastructures at remote locations like deep inside a jungle, or in the middle of the sea. [6] [10] [11] From 2009 Fukuyo worked for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 2017 he became an associate professor at the University of Tokyo Center for Spatial Information Science. [8] It was during this time that he applied for the S-Booster 2017, a space-based business idea contest, with the idea 'Global Ripple Satellite Network'. [12] This business idea won the special jury award, and became the basis of ArkEdge Space. [6]

In July 2018, Fukuyo founded his own company, Space Edge Lab. The company's first satellite, RWASAT-1 was launched in 2019. The company changed its name to ArkEdge Space in January 2021. In March 2021 ArkEdge Space completed seed round funding, raising 400 million yen. In October 2021 the company announced plans to develop a VDES satellite and conduct on-orbit demonstration. [13] In March 2022 the company closed Series A funding with a total of 2.3 billion yen raised. [12] In February 2025 ArkEdge Space raised 8 billion yen in Series B round from investors including JIC Venture Growth Investments. [14]

Services

ArkEdge Space develops and operates smallsats of various size, ranging from 3U CubeSats to microsats heavier than 100 kg. For 6U CubeSats the company uses a standardized multi-purpose satellite bus that can be applied for a wide variety of missions including remote sensing, VDES communication, and optical communication. [15] Spacecraft components developed in-house by ArkEdge Space include an Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) for CubeSats, and a satellite communication system with low energy consumption. [16] [17] The company also offers hosted payload services to its customers; for example the AE1c satellite launched in January 2025 carried and tested a water resistojet thruster developed by Pale Blue. [18] [19]

Communication and location intelligence

ArkEdge Space is developing various satellites for communication and location intelligence, including establishing a constellation of IoT satellites and VDES satellites. In October 2024, the Japanese space agency JAXA selected ArkEdge to conduct a fesaibility study for the establishment of a Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) satellite constellation. [20]

Optical communication satellites

ArkEdge Space is developing satellites for laser communication in space together with National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kiyohara Optics, and SoftBank Corp. The satellites will enable communication between low Earth orbit and high-altitude platform stations in the stratosphere using lasers. [21] The AE4La satellite will be the first satellite of this series. [22]

VDES satellite constellation

VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) is a next generation maritime communication standard based on Automatic Identification System (AIS), and is capable of bi-directional digital communication. [23] While AIS is used to track maritime traffic, it has limitations in range and communication speed, along with only allowing communication in one direction. Thus an AIS satellite can only receive incoming AIS signals, and cannot send signals back to the ships. [24] VDES works within a radius of 2,000 km (1,200 mi), and is designed to transmit a volume of information 32 times larger compared to AIS. Global satellite coverage can be achieved by a constellation of around 60 VDES satellites, and it will be possible to communicate around the world in real time using VDES. [23] VDES can be used to monitor the position and velocity of ships to promptly respond to ships in distress and ship groundings, and broadcast maritime safety information such as ice charts and sea states to ships thousands of kilometers away from the shore. [25] VDES also has a dedicated mode for ranging called VHF Data Exchange System Ranging (VDES-R). VDES-R will enable positioning for maritime traffic independent of global navigation satellite system (GNSS). [26]

ArkEdge Space was one of the founding members of the Satellite VDES Consortium formed in October 2022. [27] In March 2023, a group consisting of ArkEdge Space, IHI Corporation, and LocationMind was selected by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for the project 'Development and Demonstration Project of Maritime Situational Awareness Technology Based on a Constellation of VDES Satellites'. [28] [29] On 14 January 2025, ArkEdge Space's first VDES satellite, AE1d was launched. AE1d is a 6U CubeSat with a deployable large antenna. [15] A second VDES satellite, AE3Va was launched on 23 June 2025. [22]

ArkEdge is also developing a heavier 30 kg class VDES and maritime observation nanosatellite. [30]

Deep space missions

Schematic showing the instruments carried on Comet Interceptor. Probe B1 is on the upper right. Comet Interceptor instruments.png
Schematic showing the instruments carried on Comet Interceptor. Probe B1 is on the upper right.

In December 2022, JAXA awarded a contract to ArkEdge Space for developing one of the probes that will flyby a comet as part of the Comet Interceptor mission. [31] The Probe B1 spacecraft being built by ArkEdge Space is equipped with three scientific instruments, [32] and will remain attached to its parent spacecraft until just before approaching a comet. The Comet Interceptor mission is planned to be launched in 2029. [33]

Remote sensing

ArkEdge Space is developing CubeSats for remote sensing. The AE2a satellite launched on 23 June 2025 is the company's first remote sensing satellite, and has a hyperspectral camera. [22] AE2a conducted observation of vegetation and surface conditions. [34]

List of spacecrafts

Spacecraft List [35]
Spacecraft NameCOSPAR-IDLaunch Date
(Deployment Date)		Launch VehicleSiteSpacecraft SizeDeorbit Date
RWASAT-11998-067QT24 September 2019
(20 November 2019)		 H-IIB Tanegashima 3U27 April 2022
OPTIMAL-11998-067VA26 November 2022
(6 January 2023)		 Falcon 9 Block 5 Kennedy 3U22 August 2023
AE1b
YODAKA		1998-067XB5 November 2024
(9 December 2024)		 Falcon 9 Block 5 Kennedy 6U28 February 2025
DENDEN-01 [17] 1998-067XD5 November 2024
(9 December 2024)		 Falcon 9 Block 5 Kennedy 1U11 March 2025
AE1c2025-009AS14 January 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5 Vandenberg 6U
AE1d2025-009K14 January 20256U
AE2a2025-135BR23 June 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5 Vandenberg 6U
AE3Va2025-135AM23 June 20256U
AE5Ra [36] November 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5
AE5Rb [36] November 2025
AE5Rc [36] November 2025
AETS-1 [37] KAIROS Kii 3U
Comet Interceptor Probe B1 [33] 2029 Ariane 62 Kourou Nanosatellite

See also

References

  1. ↑ Komiya, Kantaro (7 February 2025). "Taiwanese microsatellite shows world-class optical capabilities, Japan's ArkEdge says". Reuters . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "日本の衛星コンステレーション強化の鍵！？アークエッジ、6U衛星運用開始へ". Space Connect (in Japanese). 17 January 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Park, Si-soo (5 April 2022). "Japan's ArkEdge Space closes $18.7 million Series A for nanosatellite projects". SpaceNews . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Torishima, Shinya (26 May 2022). "超小型衛星×AI×IoT=∞ パイオニアが語るその未来". TELESCOPE magazine (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Yamada, Masako (27 March 2025). "地球上では熾烈な覇権争いが始まっている宇宙産業　瀬戸際にある日本を背負うキーパーソンが、超小型衛星で安全で豊かな未来を創る！" (in Japanese). for Startups. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "現場のリアリティに向き合い、地球規模の課題解決に向けた宇宙インフラを構築する". SPACE Media (in Japanese). 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "南米の駐在経験から気づいた超小型人工衛星の可能性。アークエッジ・スペース福代氏インタビュー". JP Startups (in Japanese). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  8. 1 2 Suzumoto, Ryo; Miyoshi, Takahiro; Deguchi, Tomonori; Ui, Ryo; Fukuyo, Takayoshi (2024). "多様な衛星データを活用した地理空間情報プラットフォームの開発と展開" [ArkEdge Insights: A Geospatial Information Platform Utilizing Diverse Satellite Data]. Journal of The Remote Sensing Society of Japan (in Japanese). 44 (3). The Remote Sensing Society of Japan: 246–249. doi:10.11440/rssj.2024.024 . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "「静岡県はデータ利活用の先進地になれる！」。東京の宇宙スタートアップが人工衛星の運用拠点を牧之原市に開設（株式会社アークエッジ・スペース）" (in Japanese). Shizuoka Prefecture. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Yoshii, Isamu (1 March 2023). "「アマゾン奥地を宇宙から見る」衛星の全球的事業を究める男" (PDF). New Media (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "超小型衛星によるコンステレーションを構築し、安全で豊かな世界へ" (in Japanese). Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  12. 1 2 "About Us". ArkEdge Space. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Inc. will conduct on-orbit demonstrations of VDES satellite for maritime DX (digital transformation). The first launch is scheduled for FY2023, for on-orbit demonstrations in 2024" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Raises JPY 8 Billion in Series B Funding to Become Leading Satellite System Integrator-Accelerating Satellite Mass Production and Business Expansion-" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  15. 1 2 "ArkEdge Space Begins Operation of Small Satellites AE1c and AE1d with New 6U Multi-purpose Satellite Bus System ーOrbital Demonstration of On-board Components, Including VDES Mission Equipmentー" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Completes Development for Domestically Produced Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem for Satellites — ADCS Integration Unit Adaptable for 3U to 12U Satellites —" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  17. 1 2 "共同研究の革新的エネルギー技術実証衛星「DENDEN-01」が2024年12月9日に宇宙空間へ放出 ～複数のエネルギー技術・高負荷ミッションの軌道上実証がスタート～" (Press release) (in Japanese). ArkEdge Space. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Achieves Full Success in On-Orbit Demonstration of Space Components with Micro-satellite "AE1c"" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Pale Blue successfully operates the PBR-10 in orbit, confirms the soundness of the system" (Press release). Pale Blue. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Werner, Debra (17 October 2024). "ArkEdge Space wins JAXA position, navigation and timing contract". SpaceNews . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "ArkEdge Space, NICT, Kiyohara Optics, and SoftBank Join Forces to Demonstrate Optical Wireless Communications Between Satellites and HAPS Pioneering two-way laser links between low Earth orbit and the stratosphere" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 "ArkEdge Space Successfully Launches and Initiates Operations of AE2a and AE3Va Micro-satellites — Ongoing Demonstration of 6U Standard Satellite Bus with Five Operational Satellites to Date —" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  23. 1 2 Watanabe, Chuichi (25 November 2021). "３．VDES（VHF Data Exchange System；次期AIS）概要" (PDF) (in Japanese). Cabinet Office . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  24. ↑ Watanabe, Chuichi (25 November 2021). "２．現行AIS(Automatic Identification System)の利用現状と課題" (PDF) (in Japanese). Cabinet Office . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  25. ↑ Yasuda, Tomoaki (11 January 2024). "超小型衛星による海洋デジタル化の推進" (PDF) (in Japanese). Satellite VDES Consortium. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "State of the Market Report, Low Earth Orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing – 2024 Edition" (PDF). FrontierSI. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  27. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Inc. joins "Satellite VDES Consortium" as a founding member" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  28. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Selected for Development and Demonstration Project of Maritime Situational Awareness Technology Based on a Constellation of VDES Satellites" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "focus NEDO No.89" (PDF). New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  30. ↑ Yasuda, Tomoaki (11 December 2024). "低軌道衛星測位（LEO-PNT）に関する動向について" (PDF) (in Japanese). Cabinet Office . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  31. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Inc. has been selected as developer and manufacturer of an ultra-compact spacecraft for the comet exploration mission "Comet Interceptor"" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Instrumentation". Comet Interceptor. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Comet Interceptor Visiting a pristine comet". ESA . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  34. ↑ "ArkEdge Space Achieves Full Mission Success with "AE2a" Micro-satellite Contributing to SDG-Related Applications through Forest and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring" (Press release). ArkEdge Space. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "Space-Track.org". www.space-track.org. Retrieved 12 November 2025.(subscription required)
  36. 1 2 3 "Transporter-15 Mission". SpaceX . Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  37. ↑ "プレスリリース：カイロスロケット３号機の打上げ輸送サービス契約を国内の複数の顧客と締結" (Press release) (in Japanese). Space One. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
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