16 Jan, 2026
Development of Mission 6 begins for Planned High Precision Landing in 2029
TOKYO–January 16, 2026–ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, announced that the company was selected to implement its proposal for “High Precision Landing Technology in the Lunar Polar Regions” project under the second phase of Japan’s Space Strategy Fund. The technology will be implemented in ispace’s Mission 6, with development now underway.
Proposal Outline
* The funding amount is subject to change based on stage gate reviews and other factors, so full receipt is not guaranteed at this time.
Through this selection, ispace will receive funding for up to 5 years, with a maximum ceiling of ¥20 billion, to advance the technological development of the project entitled: “High-Precision Landing Near the Lunar South Pole and Support for Payload Activities in Polar Regions Using Communication Relay Satellites.”
It is estimated that the lunar surface contains significant water resources in the form of ice. These resources are expected to be utilized in the future as a fuel supply source for deep space exploration missions as well as returning to Earth. In particular, the permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole are now commonly considered to contain water ice.
High-precision landing at these locations is an essential technology from the perspectives of resource exploration and infrastructure construction. ispace has been developing the Series 3 Lunar Lander, scheduled for launch on Mission 4, funded through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). The company has also proactively conducted studies on high-precision landing technology for polar regions.
With this selection, ispace will develop a lunar lander developed from the Series 3 lunar lander with the aim to achieve stable, high-precision landing technology for the scientifically and economically valuable high-latitude regions near the lunar south pole, with Mission 6 scheduled for 2029.
This technical trial involves demonstrating high-precision landing technology in the most challenging region of the lunar surface near the South Pole and can also be applied to achieve landings on diverse lunar terrains and locations. For example, underground cavities called “Lunar Pits” found in mid-latitude regions may have the potential for future habitation and underground resource extraction. Achieving high-precision landings near these pits could lead to new development opportunities. Furthermore, the long-term operational capability and experience gained with the lander through this development will be a crucial step directly linked to developing lunar night survival technology. This will contribute to establishing the foundation for future long-term missions across the entire lunar surface, not just polar regions, and for human activities.
Additionally, the communication relay satellite ispace plans to deploy into lunar orbit during Mission 6 through this proposal will remain operational after the mission concludes. They may be utilized for future lunar exploration and human activities, not only in the polar regions but also on the far side of the Moon. This enables the development of networked systems using multiple satellites and data relay services, laying the foundation for communication infrastructure supporting lunar activities.
Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace
“We are deeply honored to have been selected as the implementing organization for the ‘High-Precision Landing Technology in Lunar Polar Regions’ under the second phase of the Space Strategy Fund. We are also grateful to announce the commencement of development for the 2029 Mission 6 launch following this selection. ispace’s goal is to create a single system encompassing both Earth and the Moon, where an economy centered on space infrastructure supports the lives of people living on Earth and realizes a sustainable world. Water resource exploration on the Moon is the starting point for achieving this. ispace sincerely recognizes the importance of this project. We will pool Japan’s technological capabilities, boldly tackle difficult technical challenges, and strive to deliver solid results through our development efforts.”
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.