Entrepreneurship with the aim of social implementation of research results at the University of Tokyo
First of all, please give us an overview of your company.
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: We are a venture company originating from the University of Tokyo, taking on the research and development and manufacturing of propulsion machines that can be mounted on small satellites. It was founded in 2020 with the aim of social implementation of "water engine" technology born from the laboratory of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The founding members are researchers who have been engaged in research and development of propulsion machines for many years, and I am the representative director.
Our origins date back to the laboratory where we belonged. The laboratory challenged a project that covers both basic research and practical use, not only basic research on propulsion machines but also actual operation of satellites in outer space. From the experience at that time, I learned with my skin that there is a discrepancy between the results required for university research and the results required for actual use, and that basic research alone is not implemented in society, but on the contrary, the basic performance of the propulsion machine does not improve easily. Therefore, in order to bridge the gap between the two companies, we established the Company.
Please tell us in detail about the business of "Development of artificial satellite propellators".
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: It may not be familiar with artificial satellite propeller. Propulsion machines are like engines when compared with cars. After being disconnected from the rocket, the satellite can move freely through space by the internal propellator. However, conventional propellants are high-pressure gas and highly toxic, and there are limits to miniaturization. In addition, there is a need to solve the problem that the satellites and their fragments continue to remain in orbit as space debris. Therefore, we hope to contribute to solving various issues surrounding small satellites by providing propelling aircraft for highly safe satellites.
Please tell us about the characteristics of your propulsion machine.
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: Our propellator is that it is small enough to be mounted on ultra-small satellites, and water is used as a propellant. Conventional propellants use hydrazine and xenon as propellants, but these substances have had problems with safety and procurement costs. Our "Water Engine" uses water, a safe, non-toxic, low cost, and sustainable resource. Currently, we are developing water vapor propulsion motors, water ion thrusters, and water Hall thrusters. Of these, the water vapor propellator is actually mounted on small satellites, and succeeded in injecting experiments on track.
PBR-10 water vapor practicer PBR-10
The space is large and the ceiling is high, so large equipment can be brought in.
Could you tell me how you moved into Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwanoha 1?
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: Since its founding, we have been developing technology at Tokatsu Techno Plaza (a venture support facility located in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture). However, as the business expanded steadily, the facility alone became too small, so we arrived at Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwanoha 1 in search of a new location.
Mr. Pale Blue Yamanaka: When moving into Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwa-no-ha 1, it was a big point that I was able to rent a first-floor floor where the ceiling was high and large equipment could be carried in without difficulty. Especially in the case of our business, large equipment and equipment are required for research and development, so in the case of general rental labs, etc., there was a possibility that the essential equipment could not be carried in due to floor weight restrictions and physical restrictions.
Please let me know if you have any "benefits of lab" that you actually felt when you moved in.
Mr. Pale Blue Yamanaka: Shared facilities such as conference rooms are also very substantial. In the future, I would like to hold the Board of Directors and General Meetings of Shareholders in Kashiwa-no-ha Lab. I think the hall is also very beautiful.
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: "clean" is a very important point, and the environment of the place where you work is closely linked to the motivation of the people who work there. In the future, we would like to actively hold casual events in Kashiwa-no-ha Lab.
We want to spread the use of small satellites with safe and inexpensive water engines
Do you have any interactions in the same lab?
Pale Blue Yamanaka: I have participated in the exchange event several times. During the break, you will also have the opportunity to greet people you again at events and exchange business cards and ask for more information about the business. Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwa-no-ha 1, which focuses on the biotechnology industry, is a different type of industry in Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwa-no-ha 1, which focuses on the bio-industry industry. In that sense, we are expanding our range of interactions with our other companies.
Could you tell us about your future developments?
Mr. Pale Blue Asakawa: Among the water engines currently under development, we aim to establish technology for mass-produced water vapor propellators that have already been successful in demonstration experiments in outer space, and we plan to proceed with development at Kashiwa-no-ha Lab 1.
At the same time, we plan to continue further technological development at Kashiwa-no-ha Research and Development Center for Water Ion Slusters and Water Hall Srusterers, which have not yet completed demonstration experiments in outer space, with the same water engine. We hope to further increase the potential of small satellites and contribute to the sustainable and dramatic growth of space development in the future by promoting the use of propulsion propellants that use water as propellants in terms of safety, procurement costs, and sustainability.
