Arksedge Space Successfully Deploys On-Orbit Antenna for Microsatellite AE1a

Arksedge Space Inc. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takayoshi Fukuyo), which provides comprehensive solutions from planning and design to mass production and operation of microsatellite constellations, announces the successful on-orbit deployment of the deployable antenna aboard its operational microsatellite, AE1a.

This antenna is a core component in our ongoing demonstration of the VDES (VHF Data Exchange System), a next-generation communication system for ships. This successful deployment has laid the groundwork for verifying its communication performance in orbit.

AE1a is a satellite based on the 'Deployable Antenna Model for VHF Band Transmission/Reception' of our 6U universal satellite bus. It aims to develop and demonstrate technology for wide-area, real-time vessel tracking and communication. The success of this antenna deployment allows us to move forward with full-scale verification, including transmission functions, in addition to the reception demonstrations we have been conducting.

Our company has been demonstrating VDES-related technologies through multiple satellites, and this achievement marks significant progress in our on-orbit demonstrations using deployable antennas. Moving forward, we will further advance verification towards the realization of a VDES constellation in collaboration with our other satellites already in orbit.

The image of the deployed antenna was downlinked to a ground station from AE1a via a test signal.

This satellite is a result of the NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) grant project 'Research and Development Project for Industrial Technology Information Infrastructure Development (Support for Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose Bus for Microsatellites) / Development and Demonstration of 6U Standard General-Purpose Bus and its Production/Operation System for Rapid and Efficient Production of Multiple Types of Multiple Units,' and the NEDO commissioned project 'Economic Security Important Technology Development Program / Development and Demonstration of Maritime Situational Awareness Technology with a Communication Satellite Constellation for Ships.'

For more details on AE1a, please refer to this link: https://arkedgespace.com/news/2026-03-31_ae1a