Epson and its subsidiary Epson X Investment Corporation (EXI) have invested in Axelspace Holdings, the holding company of Axelspace Corporation, a startup company that develops and manufactures microsatellites. The investment was made through a joint fund, the EP-GB Investment Limited Partnership.
With the vision of bringing “Space within Your Reach,” Axelspace launched its AxelLiner, a business that develops, manufactures and operates microsatellites, and AxelGlobe, a business that captures and accumulates Earth observation data, sells satellite imagery, and provides analysis and consulting services.
The space industry has recently reached a turning point and is heading toward rapid commercialisation. New business players-primarily venture companies-and new business models are rapidly growing in the so-called new space sector. To address this, Axelspace developed the GRUS, a next-generation remote-sensing microsatellite that forms the building block of Axelspace’s Earth observation constellation. Even with its mass of around 100kg, it will enable acquisition of images with a 2.5m ground resolution.
In addition to solutions businesses that utilise satellite data, these players are developing high-frequency observation services using microsatellite constellations, providing on-orbit services, and developing space resources. The number of satellites launched globally is expected to double in the next 10 years, and the utilisation of satellite space data and technology is expected to continue to grow steadily.
Axelspace is a private-sector satellite manufacturer that, to date, has designed, manufactured and now operates nine microsatellites. The company, which simultaneously manufactured four of its GRUS satellites for its AxelGlobe data service, is accumulating knowledge in volume-production.
The on-orbit services sector and the utilisation of space data and technology using these microsatellites are expected to further expand in the future. As this unfolds, Axelspace will expand around its core businesses, an Earth observation platform and one-stop microsatellite services.
Under the Epson 25 Renewed corporate vision, Epson seeks to contribute to the development of a smart society with crystal device and semiconductor solutions that capitalise on its state-of-the-art efficient, compact and precise technologies.
Epson and EXI invested in Axelspace because it is a growing company that has demonstrated competitiveness in the expanding space data and technology utilisation business, has strong technological capabilities, and has continued to compile a strong track record. Moreover, they wish to explore the possibility of synergies with Epson’s sensing devices.
Going forward, Epson will help to achieve a sustainable society through co-creation with a variety of partners based on its proprietary technologies, products, and services.