Pale Blue Inc.
Sustainable space development and utilization
History
Pale Blue was founded in April 2020 as a spin-off company from the University of Tokyo. Four co-founders received Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo and have been studying for over a decade. Pale Blue’s core technologies are based on years of research at the University of Tokyo.
In 2014, we succeeded in the world’s first on-orbit operation of the micro-ion propulsion systems in low earth orbit and deep space. In 2019, the micro-water propulsion system was equipped with the 3U CubeSat and successfully deployed from the International Space Station.
Pale Blue’s water propulsion systems have high TRL (e.g. 7~9) and experiences in meeting the safety requirements of Japanese launch vehicles “H-IIA” “H-IIB” and ISS deployment.
Business
Pale Blue provides a variety of water propulsion systems for CubeSatsor small/micro/nano-satellites as follows:
○ Ion thruster
○ Resistojet thruster (Electrothermalthruster)
◯ Unified thruster (both ion thruster and resistojet thrusters are integrated)
Besides, Pale Blue also provides a safety review package, customization, customer support, or developer kit.
Products/Services
Water ion thruster
152 – 460 μN, 560 – 1452 s, 22 – 62 W, 1.6 kg (dry),0.7U (w/o tank)
Satellite: HODOYSHI-4 (60 kg-class)
Launcher: Dnepr in 2014
Propulsion type: Ion
(Flight Proven)
Satellite: PROCYON (60 kg-class)
Launcher: H-IIA in 2014
Propulsion type: Ion and cold gas jet
(Flight Proven)
Water resistojet thruster
1 –4 mN, 70 –100 s, 5 –20 W, 0.8 kg (dry), 0.5U (w/o tank)
Satellite: AQT-D (3U CubeSat)
Launcher: H-IIB in 2019 (ISS-deploy)
Propulsion type: water resistojet
(Flight Proven)
Satellite: JAXA’s tech-demo sat
Launcher: Epsilon in 2022 (planned)
Propulsion type: water ion and resistojet
(Flight Planned)
Main Clients
SatelliteManufacturers or owners