Pale Blue Advances to Phase 2 of MEXT SBIR-3 Debris Mitigation Grant
61 FOMOPale Blue progressed to Phase 2 of the MEXT SBIR-3 program, unlocking up to $7.9M in additional funding for detailed system design and ground verification of its water-based ion and Hall-effect thrusters. Phase 2 runs through December 2026, with in-orbit demonstration the target for Phase 3.
Why it matters
Phase 2 clearance confirms the technology is on track. By the time phase 3 in-orbit demo lands, Pale Blue will have ~$27M of government-validated flight heritage behind it — a strong differentiator for constellation operators choosing propulsion.
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Veenie.Space Telemetry
Pale Blue progressed to Phase 2 of the MEXT SBIR-3 program, unlocking up to $7.9M in additional fund