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Space BD, a leading Japanese space startup, announces that we decided to provide the opportunity to launch a demonstration device developed by BULL Co., Ltd. on the H3 rocket to facilitate BULL’s “technology development & demonstration required to reduce space debris.”

This BULL initiative is one topic selected in September 2023 for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s FY2022 Supplementary Budget “Small Business Innovation Research Program (MEXT Portion) (hereinafter “MEXT SBIR”),” which will lead to the development of a device that will autonomously prevent the formation of space debris from spacecraft such as satellites and rockets.

 

Center: BULL CEO Yasuhito Uto (right) and Space BD’s Masatoshi Nagasaki (left)

Left: Space BD provided satellite loading support for the second H3 rocket launched in February 2024 (Provided by JAXA)

Right: Image of the demonstration device. A membrane is deployed from the satellite (top right of the image) to achieve rapid de-orbit using atmospheric resistance

 

 

●About Space BD’s H3 Rocket Launch Opportunity Service

Space BD has been selected by JAXA as a private company to provide small satellite launch opportunities via H-IIA and H3 rocket rideshares. This launch opportunity, based on the project framework with JAXA, will mark the first time a private service is used to conduct a launch opportunity business. BULL will be the first customer for this private initiative using the H3 rocket.

 

 

●About BULL’s Device

BULL has been developing the technology necessary for space debris mitigation since receiving approval for MEXT’s fiscal 2022 supplementary budget, an R&D grant, project “Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 3 (MEXT section)” in September 2023.  The PMD device scheduled for orbital demonstration with the H3 rocket is designed with a membrane structure to increase atmospheric drag, enabling mission-completed launcher vehicles to rapidly leave orbit, descend and re-enter the home planet. This demonstration aims to verify the key technologies required for orbital descent performance.

 

Space BD is currently working with BULL to leverage our ingenuity to achieve BULL’s vision as we provide this launch opportunity. We aim to not only make this first ridesharing project by a private sector business using the H3 rocket into a success, but also to give our all in our support to ensure the success of BULL’s “one step further orbit demonstration,” which is a future focus technology.

 

 

■About BULL Co., Ltd.

BULL is a startup with a vision to make interplanetary travel “the normal,” on and off the Earth aiming to provide inexpensive/concise services in space, by utilizing “(Re)Entry” technology into planets. Based in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, BULL promotes business through collaboration with local, national and international industry, academia, government, and financial institutions. The company develops devices to prevent space debris generation and microgravity experimental satellites for orbital utilization, contributing to the SDGs in the new era of space development. BULL began in June 2024 a co-creation initiative under the J-SPARC framework with JAXA to prepare its space debris mitigation device for the Epsilon S rocket and announced the partnership with Arianespace in September 2024.

• Company Name: BULL Co., Ltd.
• Headquarters Address: 3-1-4 Chuo, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
• Representative: CEO Yasuhito Uto
• Established: November 7, 2022
• Business Description: Space debris countermeasure business, orbital utilization-related business
• URL: https://bull-space.com/

 

 

■ About Space BD 

Space BD is a one-stop service provider of various solutions to foster commercial utilization of space. Ranging from launch of small satellites with commercial launchers as well as via the International Space Station, to supporting pharmaceutical research with protein crystallization in microgravity, Space BD can support everything from business plan formulation and market research to hands-on technical operations. As of Oct 2024, Space BD has supported over 80 satellite projects from and over 450 space related missions.

 U R L：https://space-bd.com/en/