Tokyo, Japan, April 2, 2026 – ArkEdge Space Inc. (“ArkEdge Space”), a Tokyo-based space start-up delivering micro-satellite constellations from design to operations, has received the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) President’s Award at the 7th Space Development and Utilization Awards Ceremony, hosted by Japan’s Cabinet Office.
The award recognizes ArkEdge Space’s establishment of an industrial-scale production model for micro-satellites, integrating satellite development, operations, and data services with advanced IT systems to enable scalable constellation deployment.
The company deployed and began operating nine satellites within a single year through November 2025—the highest annual number recorded by any Japanese organization to date, according to the company. In total, ArkEdge Space has developed and operated [1] 18 satellites, supporting missions that include global AIS maritime tracking, hyperspectral Earth observation, and IoT satellite communications.
The model was developed in collaboration with the Intelligent Space Systems Laboratory (ISSL), also known as the Nakasuka–Funase–Igarashi Laboratory, at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering and Seiren Co., Ltd. (“Seiren”), a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Fukui. Building on the University of Tokyo’s advanced 6U satellite architecture, ArkEdge Space developed a standardized 6U satellite bus and established a production framework with Seiren covering the full value chain, from mission planning and spacecraft design to manufacturing, on-orbit operations, and data services.
“Micro-satellites are becoming essential infrastructure for the modern space economy,” said Takayoshi Fukuyo, CEO of ArkEdge Space. “This recognition reflects our team’s work to industrialize satellite production and expand the role of space technology in addressing real-world challenges.”
The award committee highlighted the company’s integration of IT-driven digital transformation across the satellite lifecycle, its ability to lower barriers to entry for organizations with limited prior experience in the space sector, and its expansion of satellite applications across domestic and international markets.
Beyond spacecraft development, ArkEdge Space also operates ArkEdge Insights®, a satellite data utilization platform that enables users to access and analyze satellite data through a web browser without specialized tools or expertise. The platform is currently operational within a Paraguayan government system, with pilot implementations underway in Brazil, Fiji, and Japanese municipalities.
ArkEdge Space will continue advancing the mass production and real-world deployment of micro-satellites, expanding access to space-based infrastructure, creating new value across industry, government, and research sectors and contributing to solutions for broader societal challenges.
[1] Part of ArkEdge Space’s manufacturing capability was developed with support from NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) under its Space Industry Technology Information Infrastructure Development Program, which supports the development of standardized micro-satellite buses and efficient multi-satellite production systems.
About ArkEdge Space
ArkEdge Space is a Japanese space technology company offering end-to-end solutions for micro-satellite constellations—from planning and design to mass production and operations. Guided by its mission of “empowering people with satellites for a prosperous future,” the company is advancing capabilities in Earth observation, maritime satellite communications (VDES), optical communications, and low-Earth orbit satellite positioning, as well as lunar activities and deep space exploration. Through our mission, ArkEdge Space continues to drive the advancement of space innovation and its practical application.
Head Office Location
3F, Dome Ariake Headquarter, 1-3-33 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
CEO: Takayoshi FUKUYO
Founded: in July 2018
Website: https://arkedgespace.com/