AxelSpace Featured in NASA's State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology Report
Key facts
- AxelSpace Featured in NASA's State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology Report
- AxelSpace, a developer and operator of small satellites aiming to make space accessible to all, has been featured in NASA's 'State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology' 2026 report in both the 'Spacecraft Bus Procurement' and 'Hosted Payload Service' categories. It is the only Japanese company listed in the spacecraft bus category.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 18, 2026
Direct answer
AxelSpace, a developer and operator of small satellites aiming to make space accessible to all, has been featured in NASA's 'State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology' 2026 report in both the 'Spacecraft Bus Procurement' and 'Hosted Payload Service' categories. It is the only Japanese company listed in the spacecraft bus category.
- Citation
- AxelSpace Featured in NASA's State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology Report (June 18, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 18, 2026
AxelSpace, a developer and operator of small satellites aiming to make space accessible to all, has been featured in NASA's 'State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology' 2026 report in both the 'Spacecraft Bus Procurement' and 'Hosted Payload Service' categories. It is the only Japanese company listed in the spacecraft bus category.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 18, 2026 at 01:30
- 🔍 Collected: June 17, 2026 at 16:48
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 18, 2026 at 16:17 (23h 29m after Collected)
AxelSpace Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuya Nakamura; hereinafter "the company"), a company developing and operating small satellites to enable a society where anyone can utilize space, announces that information regarding its spacecraft bus system has been included in the "State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology" report issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (hereinafter "NASA").
A spacecraft bus system is a standardized platform that provides common satellite functions excluding the payload, such as power supply, attitude control, communication, data processing, thermal control, and propulsion—essential capabilities for satellite operations.
This report is periodically published by NASA to evaluate and organize cutting-edge small spacecraft technologies and provide relevant information to mission designers, project managers, engineers, and students.
AxelSpace has been continuously featured since the 2022 edition in the "Hosted Payload Service (Hosted Orbital Service)" category, which offers end-to-end services for satellites capable of hosting payloads—from development and launch to on-orbit operations.
Furthermore, in the 2026 edition, the company has been newly included in the "Spacecraft Bus Procurement" category, which features providers of spacecraft bus systems. AxelSpace is the only Japanese company listed as a provider of spacecraft bus systems designed for launch as secondary payloads on rockets using an ESPA (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter) ring or similar structure.
State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology (NASA):
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/soa-2026.pdf?emrc=12c9ca
※1 Payload: Defined in the report as equipment or instruments mounted on a satellite.
※2 Secondary satellites launched alongside primary payloads.
※3 The development of this general-purpose satellite bus system was supported by the following subsidy program from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national research and development agency:
"Research and Development Project for Building a Space Industry Technology Information Infrastructure (Support for Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose Buses for Ultra-Small Satellites) / Demonstration Project for Ultra-Small Satellites Toward Realizing One-Stop Services for Satellite Constellations" (2023–2026; 2021–2022 implemented directly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
AxelSpace's end-to-end small satellite service, "AxelLiner," packages satellite design and manufacturing, launch arrangement, and on-orbit operation support to assist customers in achieving their mission objectives.
About AxelLiner:
https://www.axelspace.com/ja/services/
Moving forward, the company will continue to support diverse space missions for domestic and international customers through a wide range of space utilization services, including its spacecraft bus systems.
About AxelSpace
Under the vision of "Space within Your Reach—making space an ordinary place," AxelSpace has been pioneering the development of small satellites since its founding in 2008. Leveraging proprietary technologies in satellite design, manufacturing, and on-orbit operations, the company offers satellite development and operation services "AxelLiner" to support customers' space missions, and Earth observation data services "AxelGlobe" through its own optical satellite constellation. These solutions meet the diverse needs of various industries. Through these business activities, AxelSpace aims to realize a society where anyone can access and utilize space.
AxelSpace Inc.
Address: Clip Nihonbashi Building, 3-3-3 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Yuya Nakamura
Founded: August 2008
https://www.axelspace.com/ja/
Keywords:
A spacecraft bus system is a standardized platform that provides common satellite functions excluding the payload, such as power supply, attitude control, communication, data processing, thermal control, and propulsion—essential capabilities for satellite operations.
This report is periodically published by NASA to evaluate and organize cutting-edge small spacecraft technologies and provide relevant information to mission designers, project managers, engineers, and students.
AxelSpace has been continuously featured since the 2022 edition in the "Hosted Payload Service (Hosted Orbital Service)" category, which offers end-to-end services for satellites capable of hosting payloads—from development and launch to on-orbit operations.
Furthermore, in the 2026 edition, the company has been newly included in the "Spacecraft Bus Procurement" category, which features providers of spacecraft bus systems. AxelSpace is the only Japanese company listed as a provider of spacecraft bus systems designed for launch as secondary payloads on rockets using an ESPA (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter) ring or similar structure.
State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology (NASA):
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/soa-2026.pdf?emrc=12c9ca
※1 Payload: Defined in the report as equipment or instruments mounted on a satellite.
※2 Secondary satellites launched alongside primary payloads.
※3 The development of this general-purpose satellite bus system was supported by the following subsidy program from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national research and development agency:
"Research and Development Project for Building a Space Industry Technology Information Infrastructure (Support for Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose Buses for Ultra-Small Satellites) / Demonstration Project for Ultra-Small Satellites Toward Realizing One-Stop Services for Satellite Constellations" (2023–2026; 2021–2022 implemented directly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
AxelSpace's end-to-end small satellite service, "AxelLiner," packages satellite design and manufacturing, launch arrangement, and on-orbit operation support to assist customers in achieving their mission objectives.
About AxelLiner:
https://www.axelspace.com/ja/services/
Moving forward, the company will continue to support diverse space missions for domestic and international customers through a wide range of space utilization services, including its spacecraft bus systems.
About AxelSpace
Under the vision of "Space within Your Reach—making space an ordinary place," AxelSpace has been pioneering the development of small satellites since its founding in 2008. Leveraging proprietary technologies in satellite design, manufacturing, and on-orbit operations, the company offers satellite development and operation services "AxelLiner" to support customers' space missions, and Earth observation data services "AxelGlobe" through its own optical satellite constellation. These solutions meet the diverse needs of various industries. Through these business activities, AxelSpace aims to realize a society where anyone can access and utilize space.
AxelSpace Inc.
Address: Clip Nihonbashi Building, 3-3-3 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director: Yuya Nakamura
Founded: August 2008
https://www.axelspace.com/ja/
Keywords:
FAQ
What does AxelSpace's inclusion in NASA's report mean?
It signifies international recognition as a NASA-acknowledged technology provider, validating its technical capabilities globally.
What is a spacecraft bus system?
A standardized platform providing core satellite functions like power, communication, and attitude control, excluding the payload.
What are AxelSpace's main services?
AxelLiner for end-to-end satellite missions and AxelGlobe for Earth observation data from its own satellite constellation.
What is NASA's 'State-of-the-Art of Small Spacecraft Technology' report?
An official NASA benchmark report on small satellite technologies, used by engineers and researchers worldwide.
What is AxelSpace's vision?
'Space within Your Reach'—making space accessible to everyone through innovative satellite solutions.