cosmobloom Completes Development of Deorbit Device 'LEAF'
cosmobloom has successfully completed the development of 'LEAF,' a deorbit device for small satellites. It uses a lightweight expandable membrane to increase air resistance, promoting orbit departure and complying with the FCC's 5-year rule.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 9, 2026 at 08:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 02:27 (281h 56m after Collected)
cosmobloom Inc. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Momoko Fukunaga, hereinafter "the Company") announces that it has completed the development of the "LEAF (Lightweight Expandable Aerobraking Film)," a deorbit device designed for small satellites.
This device utilizes a membrane structure characterized by ultra-lightweight and high storage efficiency. By deploying a large area in orbit, it increases air resistance and promotes the satellite's deorbiting (orbit departure). With the increasing number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), there is an international demand for the prompt removal of satellites after their operations have ended. Specifically, compliance with the so-called "5-year rule" set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is highly emphasized.
"LEAF" was designed with these regulatory trends in mind, aiming to realize reliable deorbiting even for small satellites.
When stowed, this device fits into an extremely compact volume of 0.3U (82mm x 82mm x 30mm), yet it deploys into a membrane surface of up to approximately 3.64 square meters in orbit. It adopts a self-deploying structure that does not require driving mechanisms such as motors, achieving both lightweight properties and high storage efficiency.
Furthermore, even under severe conditions of low atmospheric density during the solar minimum, the membrane deployment rate remains at 80%. It is designed with the assumption that it can deorbit a satellite with a mass of 12kg (equivalent to 6U) from an altitude of 550km within 5 years, even if the satellite is tumbling (rotating without attitude stabilization). By using multiple units of this device, it is possible to accommodate satellites and rockets under a wide range of conditions.
Moving forward, the Company plans to conduct a space demonstration in the winter of 2026 for the purpose of verifying its performance in the actual space environment.
[About the Deorbit Device "LEAF"]
"LEAF" stands for Lightweight Expandable Aerobraking Film. It is a component that promotes the deorbiting of satellites using atmospheric drag through a lightweight and expandable membrane structure.
- High storage efficiency of 0.3U (82mm x 82mm x 30mm) when stowed
- Large area membrane structure of up to approx. 3.64 sqm when deployed; self-deploying mechanism requiring no motors
- Designed considering tumbling states and low atmospheric density environments
- Orbit descent performance anticipating compliance with the FCC's 5-year rule
For detailed specifications, please contact us at the address below.
info@cosmo-bloom.com
[About cosmobloom]
cosmobloom is a venture originating from the Miyazaki Laboratory of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University (currently the Space Structure Systems Laboratory at JAXA), focusing on membranes and cables.
This device utilizes a membrane structure characterized by ultra-lightweight and high storage efficiency. By deploying a large area in orbit, it increases air resistance and promotes the satellite's deorbiting (orbit departure). With the increasing number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), there is an international demand for the prompt removal of satellites after their operations have ended. Specifically, compliance with the so-called "5-year rule" set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is highly emphasized.
"LEAF" was designed with these regulatory trends in mind, aiming to realize reliable deorbiting even for small satellites.
When stowed, this device fits into an extremely compact volume of 0.3U (82mm x 82mm x 30mm), yet it deploys into a membrane surface of up to approximately 3.64 square meters in orbit. It adopts a self-deploying structure that does not require driving mechanisms such as motors, achieving both lightweight properties and high storage efficiency.
Furthermore, even under severe conditions of low atmospheric density during the solar minimum, the membrane deployment rate remains at 80%. It is designed with the assumption that it can deorbit a satellite with a mass of 12kg (equivalent to 6U) from an altitude of 550km within 5 years, even if the satellite is tumbling (rotating without attitude stabilization). By using multiple units of this device, it is possible to accommodate satellites and rockets under a wide range of conditions.
Moving forward, the Company plans to conduct a space demonstration in the winter of 2026 for the purpose of verifying its performance in the actual space environment.
[About the Deorbit Device "LEAF"]
"LEAF" stands for Lightweight Expandable Aerobraking Film. It is a component that promotes the deorbiting of satellites using atmospheric drag through a lightweight and expandable membrane structure.
- High storage efficiency of 0.3U (82mm x 82mm x 30mm) when stowed
- Large area membrane structure of up to approx. 3.64 sqm when deployed; self-deploying mechanism requiring no motors
- Designed considering tumbling states and low atmospheric density environments
- Orbit descent performance anticipating compliance with the FCC's 5-year rule
For detailed specifications, please contact us at the address below.
info@cosmo-bloom.com
[About cosmobloom]
cosmobloom is a venture originating from the Miyazaki Laboratory of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University (currently the Space Structure Systems Laboratory at JAXA), focusing on membranes and cables.