TOKYO—August 7, 2026—ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, today announced that it has been awarded a grant for its “High-Precision Landing Technology in the Lunar Polar Regions” project, which was selected on Jan. 16, 2026, under Phase 2 of the Space Strategy Fund Program administered by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Project Title: High-Precision Landing Technology in the Lunar Polar Regions

Technology Development Objectives: High-precision landing near the South Pole of the Moon and payload deployment in the polar regions utilizing lunar communication relay satellites

Grant Amount: 11.6 billion yen

The maximum grant amount remains 20 billion yen. Since this figure is subject to change based on stage-gate reviews and other factors, it is not yet certain that the full amount will be received.

Background

Led by the United States, lunar exploration is currently accelerating rapidly. Following a December 2025 presidential executive order announcing the U.S. intention to develop a lunar base by 2030, in April 2026, NASA disclosed its plan for 20 lunar landing missions by 2028, and more than 70 missions during the next decade. Water resources are highly likely to be present in the permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole, and enabling high-precision landings at these locations is expected to advance future resource exploration and infrastructure development.

Ispace will conduct Mission 3 scheduled for 2028, utilizing its ULTRA lunar lander currently being developed with funding from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. Subsequently in 2029, the company will launch Mission 4 also with an ULTRA lunar lander, with the aim to acquire stable, high-precision landing technology for a landing near the lunar south pole. The area is believed to hold high scientific and economic value.

As part of the project, ispace intends to conduct a technology demonstration landing near the lunar south pole, an area extremely challenging location on the Moon. The technology developed and applied during the mission will be subsequently used for high-precision landings on a variety of other terrains and locations on the lunar surface. One expected usage is for landing in underground caves known as “lunar pits,” which exist in mid-latitude regions. These areas are attracting attention for their potential use as future living spaces and for their underground resources; high-precision landings near these pits could lead to new development opportunities.

Mission 4 will focus on developing advanced technologies for the long-term operation of ispace’s lunar lander fleet. During Missions 1 and 2, operations would have been limited to the lunar day when sunlight was available (approximately 14 days); however, in Mission 4, the goal is to conduct long-term operations (lunar night survival) in an environment near the South Pole where solar irradiation is expected from a horizontal direction regardless of day or night—similar to the conditions of the Arctic’s “white nights.”

Mission 4 is also expected to deploy a communications relay satellite into lunar orbit. The deployment will further establish the foundation for a communications infrastructure to support lunar activities, including the formation of a multi-satellite constellation and the provision of the “Lunar Connect Service” for data relay.

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About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)

ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with more than 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.

First Japanese Lunar Landing Mission Launched by Japanese Rocket

TOKYO—July 29, 2026—ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) (TOKYO: 7011) announced today that the two companies signed a contract for launch and transportation services for ispace’s Mission 3 ULTRA Lunar Lander using MHI’s H3 rocket currently scheduled for 2028.

A computer-generated image of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H3 rocket and ispace’s ULTRA lunar lander.

Through the agreement, ispace secures Japan’s most reliable launch capability provided by MHI and strengthens its framework to ensure the reliable execution and success of the ULTRA mission. The launch and lunar mission represent the first time a Japanese-made lunar lander and a Japanese-made rocket will work in tandem, taking a groundbreaking step in extending Japan’s space capabilities and industry to the Moon, symbolizing a new era of lunar exploration.

During its two previous lunar missions, ispace has demonstrated the ability to reliably reach lunar orbit while conducting months-long transport missions. Leveraging that mission operations experience and technical expertise, ispace is currently developing a new lander, ULTRA, with funding from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. ispace’s ULTRA, offering higher performance, higher quality, and faster access to the Moon, will be used to establish a high-frequency, low-cost transportation service to the lunar surface.

MHI is a core developer of Japan’s space industry for decades. Currently, the company is developing and manufacturing the H3 rocket, a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle that will replace the H-IIA and H-IIB rockets. Moving forward, the company will continue to support a wide range of space missions both in Japan and abroad by providing stable launch services using the H3 rocket and remains committed to the development of the space industry.

An image of Iwao Igarashi, Vice President & Senior General Manager, MHI and Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace at a signing ceremony held at ispace headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Securing reliable launch services is an essential element for the stable growth of Japan’s space industry. Combining MHI’s proven launch technology with ispace’s track record in lander development and operations realizes a launch-to-landing lunar transport system via collaboration between the two Japanese commercial companies.

In addition, the two companies have agreed to explore ways to strengthen their cooperation not only in transportation services but also in the future construction of lunar infrastructure and related technologies. Together they will continue to promote the formation of a full-scale lunar transportation system that unites Japan domestic industries, thereby contributing to the expansion of Japan’s space industry infrastructure and the creation of the cislunar economy.

Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace, inc.

“I am very pleased to sign this launch services contract to launch ULTRA using the H3 rocket. The fact that a lander developed by ispace will be carried aboard the H3 rocket, carrying forward the legacy of Japan’s domestically produced rockets with their proven operational track record, as it heads for the Moon symbolizes new possibilities for a Japanese private company to take the lead in advancing lunar development. The success of Mission 3 is a crucial milestone in ispace’s early commercialization phase, and I am confident that utilizing the H3 rocket will enable us to establish a reliable lunar transportation system,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace.

Iwao Igarashi, Vice President & Senior General Manager, Space Systems Division, Integrated Defense & Space Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

“It is a great honor for us to provide launch services for ispace’s Mission 3 ULTRA, using the H3 rocket. By leveraging the rocket technology and operational track record that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has cultivated, we will contribute to the mission’s success by safely and reliably delivering the lander into space. With an eye toward new collaborations in private-sector-led lunar development, we look forward to working with ispace to pioneer new possibilities for Japan’s space industry,” said Iwao Igarashi, Vice President and Senior General Manager of Space Systems at MHI.

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About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)

ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with more than 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense.

MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world.

For more information, please visit http://www.mhi.com/ or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.

TOKYO—July 16, 2026—ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SKY Perfect JSAT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly evaluate the use of SKY Perfect JSAT’s commercial near-Earth tracking network service, “JSAT Space Line”.

Under the MoU, the companies will exchange technical information and conduct system compatibility studies with the aim of establishing communications between JSAT Space Line ground stations and ULTRA, ispace’s next-generation lunar lander planned for Mission 3, currently planned for launch in 2028. The collaboration will also explore the feasibility of demonstration activities between the spacecraft and ground stations.

A computer-generated image of ispace’s ULTRA lunar lander.

Establishing stable, flexible, and resilient communications framework is a critical element of lunar mission operations. As lunar exploration activities continue to accelerate in the years ahead, ispace is seeking to expand its options for ground station services and mission support capabilities.

As part of this effort, ispace will explore the feasibility of leveraging JSAT Space Line’s ground station infrastructure to support communications for future lunar exploration missions. The study will also examine the potential use of the service as a backup to the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) ground station network operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). By enhancing redundancy across key communications systems, including X-band downlinks, ispace aims to help establish a more reliable and resilient communications architecture for sustained lunar exploration activities.

The ground station infrastructure of JSAT Space Line has previously been utilized for signal measurements activities associated with Artemis II, NASA’s crewed lunar flyby mission, demonstrating its proven capability to support lunar exploration mission. As the only commercial company in Asia selected to support NASA’s Artemis II mission, and with proven experience in receiving signals from not only near-Earth space but also the broader cislunar domain, SKY Perfect JSAT will leverage this expertise to support Mission 3.

JSAT Space Line
(Left) Ground station facility (photo shown: Ibaraki Station)
(Right) JSAT Space Line operations center

Through this demonstration, the two companies will evaluate the demand for and value of domestic ground station services for lunar exploration missions, while working to build a communications infrastructure that will support Japan’s future lunar exploration activities. Through these efforts, they aim to contribute to the development of next-generation deep space communications infrastructure.

Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace, inc.

“Communications infrastructure is one of the most critical elements of lunar exploration missions. Looking ahead to future missions, we believe it is essential to secure connectivity with multiple ground station service providers and establish an operational framework that is both flexible and highly resilient,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Our collaboration with SKY Perfect JSAT toward Mission 3 is significant not only in validating the technical effectiveness of JSAT Space Line, but also in expanding the potential use of commercial ground station infrastructure in Japan for lunar exploration missions. We will continue advancing this collaboration as an initiative that contributes not only to future lunar exploration activities but also to strengthening the foundation of Japan’s space industry.”

Statement of Teruo Yamashita, Board Director, Managing Executive Officer of Unit President, Space Business Unit of SKY Perfect JSAT

“As space activities, including lunar exploration, continue to accelerate, we believe that the need for highly reliable communications infrastructure will only continue to grow. This initiative represents an important opportunity to evaluate the applicability of JSAT Space Line to lunar exploration missions. By collaborating with ispace, which is advancing lunar exploration missions, we also expect this effort to further expand the role that commercial communications infrastructure can play in supporting deep space activities. Building on the knowledge and ground station operational experience we have gained through its support for NASA’s Artemis II mission and other space communications initiatives, SKY Perfect JSAT will continue to support ispace’s mission 3, while contributing to the development of Japan’s deep space communications infrastructure.”

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About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)

ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with more than 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.

About SKY Perfect JSAT (https://www.skyperfectjsat.space/en)

Positioning itself as “Space Business Pioneers”, SKY Perfect JSAT operates two core businesses: Space and Media. In its Space Business, the company provides satellite communications services through its geostationary satellite fleet while expanding into new domains, including Earth observation data services through its own low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and solutions for national security and other mission-critical applications. In its Media Business, SKY Perfect JSAT operates the “SKY PerfecTV!” multi-channel pay TV platform, media solutions services, optical alliance businesses including fiber retransmission services, and global IP businesses. In April 2026, SKY Perfect JSAT integrated its holding company and operating company structure, accelerating its efforts to create new value and drive further growth as an integrated space and media company.