Pale Blue: Pioneering Sustainable Future in Space with Water-Based Thruster Innovation

Pale Blue: Pioneering Sustainable Future in Space with Water-Based Thruster Innovation

Pale Blue was founded by four members who have been engaged in basic research on propulsion machines, and the development and operation of the satellite-mounted actual machine together for more than 7 years. Pale Blue is striving every day to realize sustainable space development and utilization, centering on the technology of ultra-small propulsion systems with water as the propellant. Their mission is to enable safe, high-performance thrusters using water as a “green” propellant, disrupting traditional propulsion systems with reliable and sustainable alternatives.

Water-based Propulsion Systems

Pale Blue offers advanced electric propulsion systems suited for a wide variety of missions for spacecraft ranging from 3U CubeSats to 700 kg satellites. The systems use water as propellant and do not require high-pressure storage, which leads to a safe, cost-effective, and sustainable solution for in-space propulsion.

  • PBR-10: Designed for 3U–6U CubeSats, this 0.5U thruster delivers nominal thrust at ~6 mN with ultra-compact power consumption.
  • PBR-20: A 1U-format thruster optimized for 6U–8U CubeSats, delivering approximately 20 mN thrust.

  • PBR-50: Intended for larger microsatellites (100–200 kg class), provides about 10 mN of thrust at 50 W, within a 250 × 300 mm envelope.
  • PBI: A 1U+ ion thruster delivering over 7,000 Ns total impulse, for nanosats and larger microsatellites.

Water Hall-Effect Thruster: Scalable to small satellites up to ~700 kg, offering up to ~10 mN thrust in a flexible form factor.

Pale Blue is redefining satellite propulsion through its innovative water-based thruster technology. With a broad product lineup designed for CubeSats and small microsats, proven in-orbit operations, and growing industry recognition, the company is advancing toward a safer and more sustainable future in space mobility.

Click here to learn more about Pale Blue's Thruster Technologies

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
Advertisement