ispace Secures Payload Space on SpaceX's Starship, Targeting Fastest Launch in 2030, Aims for Accelerated Growth in Lunar Infrastructure Market

ispace, Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Takeshi Hakamada; hereinafter "ispace") (Stock Code 9348) announced today that in addition to its existing lunar transportation services utilizing its proprietary lander ULTRA, it will launch a new service: lunar transportation utilizing payload space on SpaceX's Starship. As the world once again turns its attention to the Moon, ispace is evolving its business to become a "Lunar Access Integrator" capable of providing integrated "integration, transportation, and operation" services for lunar payloads. Concurrently, ispace aims to accelerate the growth of the lunar infrastructure market together with SpaceX.

An image of ispace's "Mobile Cargo System" to be mounted on SpaceX's Starship, a next-generation large rocket.

The advent of next-generation large rockets capable of transporting large-volume payloads to the lunar surface is expected to significantly accelerate the development of lunar infrastructure, including power, communication, construction, data, and mobility. As this foundational infrastructure is established on the Moon, the barriers to entry for new infrastructure businesses will be lowered, leading to a rapid expansion in demand for transporting relatively small payloads for technology demonstrations, exploration, and commercial use.

Through a contract with SpaceX, ispace has secured 500 kg of payload space on Starship, targeting its earliest possible lunar landing in 2030. ispace will begin globally selling this space to customers with lunar transportation needs for payloads under 500 kg. In this sales process, ispace will organize each customer's payload requirements, implement quality control necessary for lunar transportation, and integrate multiple payloads within its proprietary "Mobile Cargo System." ispace will then provide services such as interface adjustments with Starship through this system. Furthermore, after landing on the Moon, ispace aims to provide operational support through the Mobile Cargo System to facilitate smooth deployment of payloads on the lunar surface, movement, and access to other infrastructure. Through this, ispace will evolve beyond simply "transporting payloads to the Moon" to become a "Lunar Access Integrator" that provides a comprehensive service encompassing "integration, transportation, and operation" of customer payloads, connecting Earth to the lunar surface end-to-end.

An image of the end-to-end service provided by ispace as a "Lunar Access Integrator."

Since its first launch contract with SpaceX for the Falcon 9 rocket in 2018, the first for a Japanese space startup, ispace has signed a total of three launch contracts. In 2022 and 2025, ispace launched landers on Falcon 9 rockets during two missions conducted as part of the private lunar exploration program "HAKUTO-R." In addition to key bases in Japan, the United States, and Europe, ispace has recently established a presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, forming a cross-continental global customer acquisition team, demonstrating its unique strengths as a global company. Against this backdrop, this initiative offers customers with payload needs under 500 kg an opportunity to access the Moon by collaborating with ispace and SpaceX.

ispace is currently planning and preparing for three lunar landing missions using its self-developed ULTRA lander in 2028, 2029, and 2030, respectively. With this announcement, by adding lunar transportation services utilizing its Mobile Cargo System on SpaceX's Starship to its business portfolio, in addition to utilizing its own ULTRA lander, ispace can broadly capture the expected increase in lunar payload needs worldwide.

Transportation using Starship and ispace's Mobile Cargo System offers customers the advantage of large capacity at a relatively low price. In contrast, transportation using the ULTRA lander can provide high-value-added customized services tailored to more specific customer needs (timing, location, environment, attributes, etc.). By combining these offerings and providing optimal choices for each customer, ispace aims to stimulate latent demand for lunar payloads and contribute to the accelerated growth of the lunar infrastructure market.

Comment from Takeshi Hakamada, Representative Director, CEO & Founder of ispace, Inc.

"We are extremely pleased to offer a new service utilizing payload space on Starship through our collaboration with SpaceX. For ispace to achieve its goal of realizing a sustainable lunar economy, large-capacity and relatively low-cost lunar transportation like that offered by Starship is indispensable. As a 'Lunar Access Integrator,' ispace aims to be the gateway for customers worldwide to access the Moon and achieve their missions by combining high-value-added lunar transportation with our own lander and the large-capacity transportation opportunities utilizing Starship."

Comment from Stephanie Bednarek, Vice President of Commercial Sales, SpaceX

"SpaceX has supported ispace's two missions with Falcon 9 launches. We are very honored to now expand that cooperation to Starship. The new service that ispace will offer as a Lunar Access Integrator is an important option for securing opportunities to transport small payloads to the Moon. We look forward to continuing to support ispace and its future customers in expanding their access to the Moon."

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

With the vision "Expand our planet. Expand our future. ~To create a sustainable world by expanding the sphere of human activity into space~," ispace is a space startup company engaged in lunar resource development. Operating from three bases in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, the company currently has approximately 350 staff members. Founded in 2010, it operated "HAKUTO," one of the five finalist teams in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition. ispace is developing small landers (lunar spacecraft) and lunar exploration rovers with the aim of providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation and data services to the Moon. It aims to become a gateway for private companies to conduct business on the Moon and is also developing a "Luna Connect" service centered on communication and positioning, utilizing its own proprietary lunar orbiting satellite. In 2023, it conducted Mission 1, its first lunar landing attempt as a private company. In 2025, it conducted Mission 2, successfully demonstrating reliable transportation capabilities to lunar orbit, as well as lander attitude control and guidance control functions. The company plans to deploy one lunar orbiting satellite into lunar orbit as a new Mission 2.5 as early as 2027. In 2028i, it plans to launch Mission 3 using the lander model "ULTRA," developed primarily by its Japanese base with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's SBIR subsidy. Subsequently, in 2029ii, it plans to launch Mission 4, aiming for high-precision landing near the South Pole. Furthermore, Mission 5 (Official Name: Team Draper Commercial Mission 1), led by its U.S. base, is scheduled for launch in 2030iii, with plans to contribute to NASA's "Artemis Program."

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i The launch timing is scheduled as of July 2026 and is subject to change. The project implementation period for the "Development and Operational Demonstration of Lunar Landers" theme, for which the company was selected as a recipient of the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant, is generally set for fiscal year 2027. While the launch of Mission 3 (formerly Mission 4) under the SBIR program was initially agreed upon with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the SBIR office for launch within 2027, as of July 2026, the company's internal development schedule anticipates a launch within 2028. This change is currently under coordination with the relevant ministries and the SBIR office, and final approval will be granted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

ii As of July 2026.

iii This U.S. mission is part of NASA's CLPS Task Order CP-12, for which ispace is a member of Team Draper. The execution of CP-12 under the new schedule awaits formal approval from NASA.