ispace
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 9348
- Industry
- Services
- Category Detail
- Transportation Equipment
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- September 2010
- Listing Year
- April 2023
- Official Website
- https://ispace-inc.com/jpn/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Astro HD, Toyota Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy
Overview
ispace is a space venture company founded in 2010, leading the world in the development of lunar landers and rovers centered on lunar transportation services.
Current Situation
ispace listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in 2023 and is engaged in private lunar landing operations at the forefront of space exploration. In April 2023, it aimed for its first lunar landing but failed to achieve a soft landing; however, after improvements, it plans a retry in winter 2024. In the HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program, it develops landers and rovers, and has signed resource exploration contracts collaborating with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency. The business specializes in space transportation services, pursuing the commercialization of lunar resources while aiming for the first private lunar landing. It is actively investing in fundraising and technology development, planning to deploy the large lander APEX 1.0, developed at its U.S. base, in 2026. It also emphasizes sustainability, conducting joint research with JAXA and others. Moving forward, it has in its sights landing on the far side of the Moon and operating swarms of up to 1,000 robots, aiming to strengthen its presence in the private space business.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Operates Japan's first private lunar transportation service.
- Signed partner contract with NASA to enter commercial lunar transportation.
- Lunar rover SORATO donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
- Researching coordinated operation of over 1,000 space swarm robots.
- Originally a team participating in the Google Lunar X Prize.
- Participating as designer in far side of the Moon cargo transportation mission.
- Many Japanese engineers involved in initial mission lunar lander.
- Strong ties with Tohoku University's robotics research.
- Newly listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in 2023.
- One of the industry leaders aiming for commercial lunar resource mining.
Hidden Connections
- Tohoku University Professor Kazuya Yoshida's lab participates as CTO.
- Has long-term technical collaborations with NASA and Draper Laboratory.
- Japanese company that signed lunar resource development MOU with Luxembourg government.
- Selected multiple times for Canadian Space Agency's lunar funding program.
- Received research grants from JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub.
- Invested by major Japanese venture funds such as Incubate Fund.
- Exerting presence as Asia's first listed company in lunar exploration industry.
- Advancing joint technology development projects with major automotive and electronics companies.
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Expansion of international space exploration projects.
- Rapid growth of commercial space development market.
- Technological innovation through Japan-U.S.-Europe collaborations.
- Increasing demand for commercial lunar resource utilization.
- Practical application of innovative robotics technologies.
- Increased public support from strengthened Japanese government space policy.
- Technological progress in reducing space transportation costs.
- Diversification of new lunar equipment and services.
Strategic Goals
- Achieve commercial lunar landing success rate of over 90%.
- Become world top class in lunar resource utilization business.
- Expand business and strengthen revenue base in U.S. and European markets.
- Establish technology for operating swarms of 1,000 space robots.
- Build technology standards for sustainable space resource development.
Business Segments
Lunar Transportation and Exploration Services
- Overview
- Provides lunar transportation technology and exploration robots to accelerate commercial space utilization.
- Competitiveness
- Experience in international lunar missions by a private company
- Customers
-
- Space-related companies
- Government agencies (NASA, Canadian Space Agency)
- Research institutions
- Private space ventures
- Products
-
- Development and provision of lunar landers
- Lunar rover exploration services
- Lunar resource exploration support
- Communication systems integration
Technology R&D and Consulting
- Overview
- Develops advanced technologies related to space exploration to support future space utilization.
- Competitiveness
- Advanced robotics technology and multinational collaboration track record
- Customers
-
- JAXA
- Universities and research institutions
- Private companies
- International space agencies
- Products
-
- Insect-type robot development
- Magnetic refrigerator technology research
- Space swarm robot control
- Lunar resource utilization technology
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Pioneer in private lunar transportation
- International collaboration with NASA and others
- Proprietary rover and lander technology
- Multinational development structure
- Innovative vision for commercial space utilization
- Strong technology R&D capabilities
- Diverse funding network
- Flexible business expansion ability
- Trust from government and public institutions
- Advanced swarm robot control technology
Competitive Advantages
- Only domestic space venture challenging lunar arrival
- Gained international competitiveness through NASA CLPS program participation
- Strengthened brand power with Japan-originated private lunar exploration
- In-house production of diverse lunar exploration devices
- Selected for commercial lunar resource extraction program
- Multinational development framework with U.S. and European bases
- Future large-scale exploration対応 with robot swarm control technology
- Stable funding base through public-private partnerships
- Accumulated advanced lunar soft landing technology
- Market superiority with next-generation large lander development
Threats
- Technical risks and failures in lunar landing
- Intensifying international space competition
- Fluctuations in funding environment
- Uncertainty in laws and regulations
- Competitors' technological innovations
- Launch delays or contract issues
- Impact of geopolitical risks
- Obsolescence of space development technologies
- Satellite communication trouble risks
- Lack of market demand
Innovations
2023: Development and operation of lunar lander RESILIENCE
- Overview
- Developed initial mission lunar lander and aimed to demonstrate soft lunar landing.
- Impact
- Achieved the first private lunar landing attempt
2024: Design reveal of large lunar lander APEX 1.0
- Overview
- Began design and manufacturing of large lander scheduled for 2026 launch in the U.S.
- Impact
- Achieved significant increase in payload capacity
2021: Initiation of space swarm robots and insect-type robot R&D
- Overview
- Developed coordinated robot control technology for lunar resource exploration.
- Impact
- Established foundation for future large-scale lunar exploration technology
2020: Participation in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program
- Overview
- Formulated lunar resource extraction and sales plans under NASA CLPS program.
- Impact
- Acquired foundation for entry into international commercial space market
2022: Participation in far side of the Moon mission design
- Overview
- Collaborated with Draper Laboratory on far side lunar exploration mission development.
- Impact
- Strengthened expansion into new space mission domains
2023: Reveal of lunar micro rover TENACIOUS
- Overview
- Completed exploration rover capable of over 14 days continuous operation at European base.
- Impact
- Gained technological superiority in micro exploration vehicle market
2021: Initiation of magnetic refrigerator technology research
- Overview
- Jointly developing energy-saving propellant liquefaction technology for lunar surface with JAXA and others.
- Impact
- Toward establishment of highly efficient refrigeration technology for space environments
2023: Software improvements for lunar lander and retry plan
- Overview
- Comprehensive overhaul of landing control software for lunar retry in winter 2024.
- Impact
- Aims to improve mission success rate
Sustainability
- Joint research with JAXA on environmental impact reduction technologies
- Promoting sustainable utilization of space resources
- Advancing energy-saving spacecraft development technologies
- Promoting resource circulation through multinational partnerships
- Science and technology enlightenment activities for local communities