Axelspace Corporation, a developer and operator of microsatellites, announced that the seven GRUS-3 next-generation Earth observation microsatellites were successfully launched and that the first radio signals were successfully received.
GRUS-3 was integrated via Exolaunch and launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, on July 7, 2026, at 07:12 (UTC) during the Transporter-17 rideshare mission. The satellites were successfully put into their intended orbit. Axelspace received the first radio signals from all seven satellites in orbit. The satellites are currently operating normally.
Axelspace had been working toward completing the critical operation of the GRUS-3 microsatellite to ensure proper functioning in orbit, in preparation for future services based on Earth observation data acquired by it.
The development of a versatile satellite bus system for GRUS-3 is based on results obtained through the following projects subsidized by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization): “Development and Demonstration of General-Purpose CubeSat and Microsatellite Buses” (FY2023-2026) *This project was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (FY2021-2022)
Click here to learn more about Axelspace's GRUS-3
Click here to learn more about SpaceX's Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle
