2 Oct, 2025
Japan-Developed Structural Thermal Model Completes TVAC Testing
Tokyo–October 2, 2025–Today, ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), announced that its next-generation Series 3 lunar lander model, funded through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), achieved a significant milestone by passing a series of tests designed to assess its structural integrity and ability to withstand extreme conditions in space. The completion of this testing regime confirms that development is progressing steadily towards the planned launch of Mission 4.
Engineers from ispace’s Assembly, Integration & Testing team oversee removal of the Series 3 Lunar Lander Structural Thermal Model from the Thermal Vacuum Testing chamber at a JAXA facility in Tsukuba, Japan.
Beginning in April 2025, the structural thermal model of the Series 3 lander, ispace’s lunar lander being designed and manufactured by its Japan subsidiary, began environmental testing including Thermal Vacuum testing at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center.
The tests are designed to put spacecraft under conditions that will simulate environments faced in space and deployment from a launch vehicle including intense vibrations and extreme temperature conditions, both heat and cold. The testing included three types of environmental tests—vibration, acoustic, and thermal vacuum testing, utilizing equipment under JAXA’s “Project for Expanding the Operation and Utilization of Environmental Test Facilities.”
The tests verified the lunar lander’s tolerance against the intense vibrations experienced during launch and the extreme temperature environment, approximately 130°C in sunlight and -140°C in shadows, as well as evaluated its thermal characteristics in a vacuum state. These environmental tests represent a crucial step toward developing the flight model of the lunar lander for the next development phase. The successful completion demonstrates ispace engineers’ ability to quickly adapt earlier lessons learned into future missions to enhance success.
The structural thermal model (STM) of the Series 3 lunar lander, surrounded by thermal vacuum test heaters, being transported into a large 13-meter diameter chamber at JAXA facilities in Tsukuba, Japan.
ispace was selected in October 2023 by Japan’s METI to receive up to 12 billion yen for the “Development and Operational Demonstration of a Lunar Lander.” The tentatively named Series 3 lunar lander will have larger specifications than the RESILIENCE Lander operated in Mission 2. It is expected to have a maximum capacity of several hundred kilograms of payload that can be delivered to the Moon’s surface. It will measure approximately 3.6m in height, 3.3m in width, and weigh about 1,000 kilograms (dry weight).
The first Series 3 lunar lander will be used for ispace’s Mission 4, which is currently scheduled to launch in 2028, following the launch of Mission 3 scheduled for 2027. ispace had initially agreed with the METI and the SBIR Secretariat that the launch would be in 2027. As of October 2025, ispace’s internal development plan currently anticipates a launch in 2028. The change is currently being discussed with the relevant government ministries and agencies and the SBIR Secretariat. The plan change will be officially approved after receiving approval from the METI.
The results of this environmental test will be incorporated into the next development phase and a detailed structural design. The Structural Model (SM) will undergo further validation to certify the structural design leading up to the launch. ispace is steadily advancing development toward a flight model for stable operations in space and the landing and ultimate success of Mission 4.
Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace, inc.
“Today we are pleased to announce completion of environmental testing, which marks another step forward in our effort to realize the ispace vision of ‘Expand our planet. Expand our future.’,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “The Series 3 lander is built for commercial missions. It will be capable of transporting more complex and larger payloads, accelerating global activities on the Moon. Guided by our belief ‘Never Quit the Lunar Quest’ we will continue to strive for success in our next mission.”
Statement of Ryo Ujiie, CTO of ispace, inc.
“We are very pleased to announce the successful completion of environmental testing for the structural thermal model of the Series 3 lunar lander,” said Ryo Ujiie, CTO of ispace. “Leveraging the valuable data obtained from Missions 1 and 2, along with ispace’s accumulated expertise, development is now progressing steadily. This new, larger lander represents an evolution to surpass past technical challenges and symbolizes ispace’s ongoing pursuit of mission success.”
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.