Development delays due to long lead times, specification changes, and defects
First written in FY2024. 7 of 18 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2025-H1. Latest entry: 2026-08-07.
No other company in this theme has enough history to compare yet.
- FY2026WorsenedAnnual report
「For the former Mission 3, which had initially been scheduled for launch in 2027 and had been selected for NASA's CLPS Task Order CP-12, verification of the fuel efficiency required to meet performance specifications for the new engine intended for the mission was delayed. After careful consideration, the company decided to change to an alternative engine with a track record of use in previous lunar missions. In light of these changes, the company rescheduled the launch of the U.S. mission to 2030 and reorganized it as the new Mission 5.」
Following delays in demonstrating the new engine, the engine was changed to an alternative, and the planned launch of the U.S. mission was postponed from 2027 to 2030. - FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「As described in “I. Risks Relating to the External Environment and the Environment Surrounding the Company, Including Third Parties, (2) Risks Relating to Third Parties, ① Government Agency Customers,” the company is discussing with the relevant organizations a change to the Mission 4 schedule resulting from changes to the engine specifications, and the schedule for that mission may also change in the future.」
In addition to the specification changes resulting from the engine supply issue for Mission 3, the expected launch of Mission 4 changed to within 2028, requiring coordination with the relevant organizations. - FY2025WorsenedAnnual report
「Mission 3 had been scheduled for launch in 2026, but it became clear that supplying the installed engine within the planned procurement schedule would be difficult. The company therefore changed the specifications by significantly simplifying the structure to further increase the likelihood of mission success, and changed the launch date to 2027.」
Following delays in the supply of engine components, specification changes and a postponement of the launch of Mission 3 actually occurred. - FY2025-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「Following discussions with SpaceX, the launch provider, the company updated the launch timing to no earlier than January 2025.」
The launch timing for Mission 2 was updated from the previous target of winter 2024 to no earlier than January 2025. - FY2024First statedAnnual report
「In the past, Mission 1 experienced development schedule delays due to changes in the development period associated with the delivery of long-lead-time items requiring years from ordering to delivery, lander specification changes to accommodate customer payload interfaces, and reprocurement necessitated by defects in part of the lander's propulsion system. Similar delays may occur in the future.」
The company listed the factors that actually caused development schedule delays in Mission 1 and stated that similar risks exist for subsequent missions.