JAL Group Launches 'ARGO PROJECT,' the World's First Airline-Led Lunar Transport Service

JALUX Inc. and ispace, inc. have signed a payload transport service agreement for ispace’s upcoming lunar landing mission (Mission 3), scheduled for 2028.

Based on this agreement, Japan Airlines (JAL) and JALUX will begin selling payload transport slots to companies and municipalities starting May 27, 2026.

In November 2025, ispace and three JAL Group companies (JAL, JALUX, and JAL Engineering) signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration in lunar transport and operations, and this contract marks the first step in that specific business development. Utilizing the payload transport slots for ispace’s lunar landing missions, the JAL Group will deploy the 'ARGO PROJECT' to preserve Earth’s culture on the Moon for the future.

[ARGO PROJECT Overview] Official Name: The ARGO Trans-Lunar Heritage Project

Inspired by the ancient constellation 'Argo Navis' (the Great Ship), the project name incorporates the wish of 'Ark Relaying for Generations Onward.' With a vision of a future where human activity expands to the lunar surface, the project aims to inherit and preserve precious culture and human activities that are lost over time.

JAL and JALUX are the project planners. JALUX is responsible for developing the dedicated lunar transport box 'Möbius Ark' and recruiting payloads. JAL will collaborate with regions and companies across Japan to collect items that reflect modern culture, such as local specialties and iconic products. ispace will transport and land the boxes containing these items on the Moon. Each box is approximately 20cm x 20cm x 10cm, with a compartmentalized interior to protect items in the lunar environment.

[About Payload Sales] Items such as culture, regional specialties, and corporate histories to be passed on to the next generation will be packed into dedicated boxes and delivered to the Moon. Photographs of the boxes on the lunar surface are also planned after arrival.