Tokyo, Japan, October 15, 2025 — ArkEdge Space Inc. (“ArkEdge Space”), a Japanese space startup based in Tokyo that provides comprehensive solutions from planning and design to mass production and operation of micro-satellite constellations, announced that its 6U micro-satellite “AE2a,” launched on June 24, 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 (Transporter-14), has achieved full mission success, meeting all predefined success criteria.

Developed using ArkEdge’s standardized 6U “Remote Sensing Model” satellite bus, AE2a was designed to validate key subsystems and remote sensing payload performance in orbit. Mission operations and data acquisition were conducted via test radio signals and are now being transitioned to operational communications.

Key mission results include:

• On-orbit demonstration of a hyperspectral camera: Established imaging operations and downlink protocols for captured data.
• Validation of satellite bus performance: Confirmed bus subsystem stability, including attitude control, power, thermal, and communications functions.
• IoT communications demonstration: Successfully exchanged IoT text and sensor data using LoRa under designated conditions.

Through multispectral observations in the visible range using a hyperspectral camera developed by Associate Professor Yoshihide Aoyanagi, Headquarters for Innovative Society-Academia Cooperation, University of Fukui, AE2a successfully acquired data enabling analysis of vegetation and surface conditions. These results demonstrate the operational readiness of ArkEdge’s 6U platform for practical remote sensing applications in water resource management, climate monitoring, and greenhouse gas observation.

(NDVI analysis example — initial imaging results)

AE2a was launched alongside “AE3Va,” a “Large Antenna Model,” as part of ArkEdge’s multi-phased demonstration initiative for developing and validating standardized 6U satellite bus and scalable production and operation systems.

Initially supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in FY2021, the project has since been advanced under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)’s “Space Industry Technology Information Infrastructure Development Program,” from FY2023 onward. The program promotes the development and in-orbit demonstration of versatile 6U micro-satellite platforms and efficient multi-satellite production. Development and image processing of the onboard hyperspectral and other onboard cameras were carried out in collaboration with the University of Fukui, led by Aoyanagi’s team at the Headquarters for Innovative Society-Academia Cooperation.

Leveraging its proven expertise in satellite development and operations, ArkEdge Space will continue to expand its hosted-payload and remote sensing services for partners across government agencies, academia, and industry—making access to space more flexible and accessible, and advancing its practical use for a safer, more prosperous future.

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/