Plans are taking shape for commercial stations 400 kilometers above Earth to serve as laboratories, factories and hotels. Investment and partnerships by Japanese companies are also advancing, lending credibility to the emerging space real estate market centered on privately operated successors to the ISS.
The launch of commercial stations privately operated as successors to the ISS could become a reality as early as next year, drawing attention to space real estate as a new market in which companies make use of outer space.
Business negotiations over the use of commercial stations are advancing within the Japan Low Earth Orbit consortium. Chieko Mori (森智恵子) of センノ・セラピューティクス has requested the installation of a fully automated device for culturing organs. The person in charge said the device is expected to be operated in a pull-out rack.
The candidates are mainly U.S. companies, with launches scheduled to begin as early as 2027. Japanese companies including Mitsui & Co., MUFG, Kanematsu, Tokio Marine, Mitsubishi Corporation, Nikon and JAMSS are also beginning to participate through investments and partnerships.