Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has announced an additional investment in Starlab Space LLC. This step not only cements Mitsubishi’s faith in Starlab’s potential for the Commercial SpaceStation Program but also allows the corporation to acquire the usage rights of the experimental module related to the Commercial Space Station.
With an active space presence since 2008, the Japanese government has been operating and utilizing the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It is a hub for technological innovation, fostering research and development across government agencies, private enterprises, and academic institutions. The experiments conducted here have played instrumental roles in prototyping high-quality protein crystal developments for orphan drugs and biopharmaceuticals and enabled research into semiconductor materials that are impossible to produce on Earth.
However, with the potential retirement of the ISS in the 2030s due to aging equipment, continuity of space-based activities are critical. The new commercial space station under development by the U.S. private companies, guided by NASA as the successor to the ISS, offers a solution. Strengthening collaboration with U.S.-based space companies, which are potential operators of the new station, has become an urgent priority for Japan.
Mitsubishi Corporation will also be assigning a director to participate in Starlab’s management. The usage rights of this space station’s experimental module will expedite space-based research and development by Japanese research institutions and private companies. By focusing on key areas such as semiconductors and life sciences, MC aims to advance the development and expansion of space station utility across various industries. This module is seen as a forward leap in the progress of cancer and rare disease treatment, drug discovery, nanomedicine, development of new materials, and innovations like space-based computing technologies in a low-gravity environment.
The additional investment in Starlab and the acquisition of usage rights for the space station experimental module aligns with the advancing efforts of Japan’s manned space activities, as promoted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). MC, with its experience in creating new businesses and building industrial interfaces, will facilitate opportunities for diverse industries to utilize the new Commercial Space Station. This move contributes to the evolution of Japan’s space industry and broader space development efforts, aiming to address social challenges on Earth through space-based research and business activities.
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