Launch Date Set for BULL Inc.'s Space Debris Mitigation Demonstration Device 'HORN' on H3 Rocket 'Flight 6'
Space startup BULL Inc. announced that its space debris mitigation device 'HORN' will be launched on the H3 Rocket Flight 6 on June 10, 2026. This marks the first commercial rideshare on Japan's flagship rocket.
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- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 00:00
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BULL Inc. (Headquarters: Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture; President/CEO: Yasushi Uto; hereinafter "BULL"), a startup with the vision of making travel between planets inside and outside the Earth "ordinary" and aiming to provide space utilization services utilizing (re-)entry technology into celestial bodies, announces that the launch of the Post Mission Disposal (PMD) device "HORN" (hereinafter PMD device "HORN"), which aims to solve social issues through the "development of technology necessary for reducing space debris," is scheduled for June 10, 2026, on the H3 Launch Vehicle "Flight 6 (30 configuration test vehicle)."
This launch will be conducted through the H3 rocket rideshare business* provided by Space BD Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Masatoshi Nagasaki), marking the first commercial rideshare use of the H3 rocket and the first instance of commercial rideshare use of Japan's flagship rocket.
* Reference) Press briefing held on the conclusion of a basic agreement for the project to provide launch opportunities for microsatellites by ridesharing on rockets.
https://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/topics/news/20191205_spacebd/
Post Mission Disposal (PMD) Device "HORN"
In September 2023, BULL was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) FY2022 supplementary budget "Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Creation Promotion Project (MEXT portion)" and is developing the technology necessary to reduce space debris. The PMD device "HORN" to be demonstrated in orbit through this H3 rocket launch has a deployable membrane structure aiming to achieve a rapid orbital descent by increasing atmospheric drag. This demonstration aims to steadily advance the verification of elemental technologies necessary for orbital descent performance.
* Conceptual deployment image of the PMD device "HORN" (when mounted as a commercial product)
About the Launch Opportunity on the H3 Rocket and the Rideshare Business
Space BD has been selected by JAXA as the private operator for the "Project to Provide Microsatellite Launch Opportunities by Ridesharing on H-IIA and H3 Launch Vehicles." Based on this selection, for the first time, a rideshare business as a private service will be implemented using the H3 rocket launch slots procured by Space BD from JAXA. This is the first rideshare business conducted by a private operator using our country's flagship rocket, and BULL's PMD device "HORN" will be its first customer.
About Space BD Inc.
Space BD is a "space trading company®" aiming to develop Japan's space business into a world-leading industry. Since its founding in 2017, it provides abundant transportation means to space and one-stop services in the utilization of outer space, including the International Space Station (ISS), from examining business plans to technical operational support by the engineering department. Based on sales and business development capabilities grounded in technical expertise, members with diverse career backgrounds are expanding businesses in areas such as support for public and private sector commercialization using space, business transformation, and education. As of January 2026, in addition to handling over 100 satellites, it has accumulated a track record of over 620 experiments in outer space.
Company Name: Space BD Inc.
Headquarters: 7th Floor, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masatoshi Nagasaki, President and CEO
Established: September 1, 2017
Business Content: Various service businesses and educational businesses in space
URL: https://www.space-bd.com/
About BULL Inc.
BULL is a startup company with the vision of "making travel between planets inside and outside the Earth 'ordinary'," aiming to "provide space utilization services inexpensively and simply by utilizing (re-)entry technology into celestial bodies." It promotes business through industry-academia-government collaboration based in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. We are advancing the development of devices to prevent the generation of space debris and the development of microgravity experiment satellites/devices for orbit utilization, contributing to the SDGs in space development in a new era.
Photo: 3rd Anniversary commemorative photo (at BULL Hiraide base)
Company Name: BULL Inc.
Headquarters: 1-4 Chuo 3-chome, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Representative: Yasushi Uto, Representative Director/CEO
Established: November 2022
Business Content: Space debris countermeasure business, orbit utilization related business
URL: https://bull-space.com/
This launch will be conducted through the H3 rocket rideshare business* provided by Space BD Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Masatoshi Nagasaki), marking the first commercial rideshare use of the H3 rocket and the first instance of commercial rideshare use of Japan's flagship rocket.
* Reference) Press briefing held on the conclusion of a basic agreement for the project to provide launch opportunities for microsatellites by ridesharing on rockets.
https://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/topics/news/20191205_spacebd/
Post Mission Disposal (PMD) Device "HORN"
In September 2023, BULL was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) FY2022 supplementary budget "Small and Medium Enterprise Innovation Creation Promotion Project (MEXT portion)" and is developing the technology necessary to reduce space debris. The PMD device "HORN" to be demonstrated in orbit through this H3 rocket launch has a deployable membrane structure aiming to achieve a rapid orbital descent by increasing atmospheric drag. This demonstration aims to steadily advance the verification of elemental technologies necessary for orbital descent performance.
* Conceptual deployment image of the PMD device "HORN" (when mounted as a commercial product)
About the Launch Opportunity on the H3 Rocket and the Rideshare Business
Space BD has been selected by JAXA as the private operator for the "Project to Provide Microsatellite Launch Opportunities by Ridesharing on H-IIA and H3 Launch Vehicles." Based on this selection, for the first time, a rideshare business as a private service will be implemented using the H3 rocket launch slots procured by Space BD from JAXA. This is the first rideshare business conducted by a private operator using our country's flagship rocket, and BULL's PMD device "HORN" will be its first customer.
About Space BD Inc.
Space BD is a "space trading company®" aiming to develop Japan's space business into a world-leading industry. Since its founding in 2017, it provides abundant transportation means to space and one-stop services in the utilization of outer space, including the International Space Station (ISS), from examining business plans to technical operational support by the engineering department. Based on sales and business development capabilities grounded in technical expertise, members with diverse career backgrounds are expanding businesses in areas such as support for public and private sector commercialization using space, business transformation, and education. As of January 2026, in addition to handling over 100 satellites, it has accumulated a track record of over 620 experiments in outer space.
Company Name: Space BD Inc.
Headquarters: 7th Floor, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Masatoshi Nagasaki, President and CEO
Established: September 1, 2017
Business Content: Various service businesses and educational businesses in space
URL: https://www.space-bd.com/
About BULL Inc.
BULL is a startup company with the vision of "making travel between planets inside and outside the Earth 'ordinary'," aiming to "provide space utilization services inexpensively and simply by utilizing (re-)entry technology into celestial bodies." It promotes business through industry-academia-government collaboration based in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. We are advancing the development of devices to prevent the generation of space debris and the development of microgravity experiment satellites/devices for orbit utilization, contributing to the SDGs in space development in a new era.
Photo: 3rd Anniversary commemorative photo (at BULL Hiraide base)
Company Name: BULL Inc.
Headquarters: 1-4 Chuo 3-chome, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
Representative: Yasushi Uto, Representative Director/CEO
Established: November 2022
Business Content: Space debris countermeasure business, orbit utilization related business
URL: https://bull-space.com/