Startup · Japan
Pale Blue
HQ Kashiwa, JapanFounded 2020Updated
Water propulsion systems for sustainable space development
Systems7
- PBH-100An integrated Hall-thruster propulsion system for spacecraft.
- PBIA water-propellant ion-thruster system for spacecraft.
- PBR-10A water-vapor propulsion system for small spacecraft.
- PBR-20A water-vapor propulsion system for small spacecraft.
- PBR-30An integrated resistojet propulsion system for spacecraft.
- PBR-50A water-vapor propulsion system for spacecraft.
Newest unveiled first. Systems that belong to a government program link to the program page, where variants, costs and contracts are.
Capabilities1
| Technology | Role | Maturity | TRL | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space, launch and counterspace | Developer | — | — | classify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Water propulsion systems for space development; no defense use stated. | Reported |
- Developerclassify_sectors run 37, haiku, taxonomy 2026-10-18b: Water propulsion systems for space development; no defense use stated.—Reported
Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.
People1
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Jun Asakawa | Co-Founder and CEO |
Sources12
Show all 12 sources and supporting evidence
Profile4
- 1
Pale Blue · Supports Organization · description, Organization · name, Organization · website
“Water propulsion systems for sustainable space development”
- 2Companypale-blue website
Supports Organization · founded year, Organization · hq city, Organization · hq region
“Established | April 2020”
- 3
Sixth-Domain · Supports Organization · country, Organization · kind
“{"country": "Japan", "hq_iso2": "JP", "id": "74f58e68-107c-4adb-9b95-22be99b26258"}”
- 4
Systems7
- 5
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue Water Hall-effect thruster offers ideal balance of thrust and isp performances. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, PPU and propellant tank, and is clusterable, and/or flexible for a tailored configuration to meet a wide range of mission requirements.”
- 6
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBH-100 offers ideal balance of thrust and isp performances. Featuring highly reliable, proprietary Japanese microwave cathode technology, this system eliminates the typical startup delay of conventional Hall thrusters for small satellites, delivering instant, high-efficiency propulsion. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, PPU and propellant tank, and is flexible for a tailored configuration to meet a wide range of mission requirements. The propellant is preloaded to the tank prior to delivery from factory so that satellite integrators would not have to deal with complex fueling work.”
- 7
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBI is a miniaturized gridded ion thruster that offers unprecedented level of total impulse in a 1U form factor. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, electronics and propellant tank, and is clusterable to meet a wide range of spacecraft sizes. The PBI uses water as propellant and does not require a high-pressure storage. The propellant is preloaded to the tank prior to delivery from factory so that satellite integrators would not have to deal with propellant loading after integration, eliminating launch-site fueling work.”
- 8
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBR-10 is a miniaturized water vapor propulsion system in a 0.5U form factor. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, electronics and propellant tank, and is clusterable to meet a wide range of spacecraft sizes. The PBR-10 uses water as propellant and does not require a high-pressure storage. The propellant is preloaded to the tank prior to delivery from factory so that satellite integrators would not have to deal with complex fueling work.”
- 9
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBR-20 is a miniaturized water vapor propulsion system in a 1U form factor. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, electronics and propellant tank, and is clusterable to meet a wide range of spacecraft sizes. The PBR-20 uses water as propellant and does not require a high-pressure storage. The propellant is preloaded to the tank prior to delivery from factory so that satellite integrators would not have to deal with complex fueling work.”
- 10
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBR-30 is a fully integrated propulsion system built on our flight-proven resistojet thruster technology. Designed in a compact 2U form factor, the system delivers exceptional performance, providing up to 12 mN of thrust at 35W, with optional throttling capability down to 3 mN at just 10W. It is delivered pre-filled and remains non-pressurized during launch, ensuring a non-hazardous payload and eliminating complex launch-site propellant handling.”
- 11
Pale Blue · Supports System
“Pale Blue PBR-50 is a water vapor propulsion system in a Φ250 x 300 mm form factor. It is a fully integrated system that incorporates thruster head, fluidics, electronics and propellant tank, and is clusterable to meet a wide range of spacecraft sizes. The PBR-50 uses water as propellant and does not require a high-pressure storage. The propellant is preloaded to the tank prior to delivery from factory so that satellite integrators would not have to deal with complex fueling work.”
People1
- 12
Pale Blue · Supports Role
“Comment from Jun Asakawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Pale Blue”
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