Company:ElevationSpace
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | aerospace |
| Fate | Active |
| Founded | February 2021 in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan |
| Founder | Ryohei Kobayashi |
| Headquarters | Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi , Japan |
| Products | space capsules |
| Website | elevation-space |
ElevationSpace is a private Japanese company developing satellites that can conduct various experiments in orbit, and then bring its payload back to Earth inside a space capsule. ElevationSpace is a spin-off company of Tohoku University, and is headquartered in Sendai, Miyagi.
The company's first satellite is named Aoba after Mount Aoba in Sendai.[1] On 3 March 2025, ElevationSpace announced that they had signed an agreement with Isar Aerospace to launch Aoba on a Spectrum rocket.[2]
History
ElevationSpace was founded by Ryohei Kobayashi in 2021. In 2023, ElevationSpace and Tohoku University tested a hybrid-propellant thruster that will be used on the Aoba satellite.[3]
On 29 July 2025, the company revealed plans to develop a crewed spacecraft by the 2040s.[4]
ELS-R
ELS-R is a free flying satellite carrying a space capsule, being developed by ElevationSpace. The first ELS-R is nicknamed Aoba, and will be launched on Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket from Andøya in Norway.[2] Several experiments are planned to be carried on board Aoba, including a growth experiment of Euglena.[5][6]
See also
- PLD Space
- Space Forge
- The Exploration Company
- Varda Space Industries
References
- ↑ "東北民間企業初の人工衛星の愛称が「あおば」に決定" (Press release) (in 日本語). ElevationSpace. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rainbow, Jason (March 4, 2025). "Isar Aerospace secures first Asian customer ahead of debut launch". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/isar-aerospace-secures-first-asian-customer-ahead-of-debut-launch/.
- ↑ "大気圏再投入用スラスタの試験成功 東北大発ベンチャー" (in ja). The Sankei Shimbun. August 25, 2023. https://www.sankei.com/article/20230825-U4KUHE4LWVIFDL4NCHDFGR5OMY/. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- ↑ "ElevationSpace、軌道上拠点に向かう国産有人宇宙機を開発へ" (in ja). Mynavi news. July 29, 2025. https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20250729-3391820/. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- ↑ "小型衛星の打ち上げを計画 ２３年、仙台のベンチャー" (in ja). The Sankei Shimbun. September 2, 2022. https://www.sankei.com/article/20220902-QR6D3AVWKBJ3JM4SLC5ODRZ2BM/. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
- ↑ "国際宇宙ステーションに代わる新たな技術 東北大学発宇宙ベンチャーが未来の宇宙空間をつくる ――ElevationSpace・小林稜平氏インタビュー" (in ja). Hama Tech Channel. February 7, 2025. https://www.fipo.or.jp/htc/1/34475. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
External links
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