1 Jan, 2025
Happy New Year and wish you all the best in 2025!
As we welcome the dawn of 2025, I extend my heartfelt New Year greetings to you all.
This year begins with the launch of SMBC x HAKUTO-R Mission 2 VENTURE MOON (Mission 2). We stand at the threshold of a historic challenge. Undeterred by the early end of Mission 1, with a spirit of “resilience”, we have learned much and resolved to shape the future with our own hands rather than entrusting it to others.
Together, we will open the door to success, hand in hand with our dedicated employees, their supportive families, our shareholders who continue to believe in ispace’s vision, our HAKUTO-R partners, government stakeholders, customers, and many others. I firmly believe this marks the beginning of a new chapter for our company.
Looking back on our journey, I am filled with profound emotion and modest pride. Last year was a period of steady preparation, not only for Mission 2 but also for subsequent missions and advancing our broader business goals. We laid the foundation for the future, solidifying our groundwork for upcoming challenges. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our entire team, we are now in the final stages of preparation for the launch of Mission 2.
On the financial front, we secured approximately 27 billion yen (180 million USD)[1] to ensure the uninterrupted progress of our projects. And that is not all. As a member of Team Draper, we are steadily preparing Mission 3 scheduled in 2026 to deliver services for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative CP-12. Additionally, with the support of Japan’s SBIR program, we are progressing with further mission scheduled in 2027, laying a solid foundation for future business expansion.
These achievements are a testament to the unwavering support of all our stakeholders. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my deepest gratitude.
We bear a responsibility—not just for ourselves but for the future of space exploration and the generations that will follow us. The work we undertake now will lay the cornerstone for humanity’s future in space.
Through the launch, landing challenges, and ultimate success of Mission 2, we aim to inspire excitement throughout Japan and the world. Let us create the future together and make history in this pivotal year.
I look forward to your continued support in the coming year.
With profound gratitude and unwavering determination,
Takeshi Hakamada
CEO and Founder, ispace
[1] Estimated amount including future planned capital increases and fundraising through the exercise of stock acquisition rights