Axelspace Successfully Launches PYXIS Demonstration Satellite

Axelspace Successfully Launches PYXIS Demonstration Satellite

Axelspace Corporation announced the successful launch and orbital insertion of the demonstration satellite “PYXIS,” marking another milestone in the company’s history. PYXIS was launched on March 4, 2024 (PST) on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base (California, USA).

Axelspace has received the first voice transmission*1 from PYXIS. It will now proceed through the initial operational phase to verify the performance of each onboard component and the regular operational phase to execute the missions in orbit.

*1 First voice transmission: The first radio signal received on Earth from a satellite in orbit

Missions of PYXIS

PYXIS will work on the following missions in orbit.

  1. Demonstration of the versatile satellite bus system*2 for AxelLiner
  2. Demonstration of the sensors for the next-generation AxelGlobe satellites (GRUS)
  3. Demonstration of a satellite radio experiment system by SONY Group

*2 The bus system is the fundamental satellite operation system, encompassing crucial functions such as attitude control and power supply.

PYXIS is equipped with a deorbit device called D-SAIL, the Deployable Deorbit Mechanism for microsatellites. Developed as a countermeasure to the growing problem of space debris, this mechanism facilitates the rapid descent of satellites into the atmosphere upon mission completion, leveraging thin atmospheric resistance in orbit.

It is planned to become the standard equipment on future satellites developed by Axelspace.

Innovation with AxelLiner

 AxelLiner aims to establish a packaged service for microsatellite projects as well as the mass production of microsatellites.

PYXIS is the first demonstration satellite of AxelLiner, the one-stop microsatellite service.

Traditional satellite development, often adopting a ‘full-customization’ approach, entails prolonged lead times, substantial costs, and demands a high level of expertise. This complexity poses challenges in formulating business plans for satellite projects, affecting a broad spectrum of users, including those from the private sector.

To address the escalating demand for microsatellites and enhance their usability, AxelLiner is leading the way with two major innovations: a packaged service for microsatellite projects and the mass production of them.

Applying the knowledge and learnings acquired from the PYXIS demonstration, Axelspace continues to deliver user-friendly solutions to diverse needs by further accelerating its technological development for AxelLiner and expanding its GRUS constellation for AxelGlobe.

This unwavering commitment aims to bring the vision of “Space within Your Reach.”

General-purpose (Versatile) satellite bus and In-orbit Demonstration of Deployable Deorbit Mechanism are based on results obtained from the following projects subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

-Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose CubeSat and Microsatellite Buses (FY2023-2026)

*This project is implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from FY2021 to FY2022

– Program to Support Ventures for Developing Space Components (FY2020-2021)

Click here to learn more about the PYXIS Demonstration Satellite.

Publisher: SatNow

GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013