ispace announced plans to launch its next-generation ULTRA lunar lander on H3 and advance its development with SBIR funding. JAMSS signed a strategic MOU with US company Vast on the commercial space station business. Japanese companies are becoming increasingly active in lunar transportation and the development of lunar infrastructure.
Japanese lunar transportation company ispace has announced plans to promote domestic procurement for lunar transportation by launching its next-generation ULTRA lunar lander on the H3 rocket. ULTRA is expected to be developed with SBIR support, with the aim of establishing a lunar transportation framework based on domestic capital circulation in Japan. The announcement also states that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will participate in the development jointly.
ispace’s business could expand beyond cargo transportation into multiple areas, including the development and provision of lunar infrastructure. An analysis of the current press release suggests that the company is looking beyond the development of lunar landers and rovers to the provision of multiple transportation services and infrastructure development for crewed lunar bases.
Based on its recent launch record, the H3 rocket will need continued launches and improvements to raise its success rate. Capturing overseas demand will be key, and the possibility has been raised that Japan could capture a share of the lunar transportation market by using “Japanese reliability” to compete with Falcon 9. Reports of a strategic shift by SpaceX have also drawn attention to the potential expansion of demand for lunar transportation.
JAMSS has signed a strategic MOU with US commercial space station company Vast and will jointly promote research and development support and the creation of new businesses involving commercial space stations. Vast’s Haven-1 is expected to be launched at the earliest, and is attracting attention as a leading candidate for crewed habitation after the retirement of the ISS. This marks an expansion of support activities by Japanese companies.