ispace, inc. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) have signed a contract for launch and transportation services for ispace's Mission 3 ULTRA Lunar Lander, scheduled for 2028. This collaboration marks the first time a Japanese-made lunar lander and rocket will work together, a significant milestone in Japan's space exploration efforts.
The agreement allows ispace to leverage MHI's H3 rocket, enhancing the reliability of the ULTRA mission. ispace has previously demonstrated its capability to reach lunar orbit, and with the development of the new ULTRA lander funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Small Business Innovation Research grant, the company aims to offer high-frequency, low-cost lunar transportation.
MHI, a longstanding contributor to Japan's space industry, is developing the H3 rocket as a next-generation heavy-lift vehicle. This partnership with ispace is expected to strengthen Japan's space infrastructure and contribute to the burgeoning cislunar economy.
Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace, expressed confidence in the collaboration, highlighting the potential for Japanese private companies to lead in lunar development. Iwao Igarashi, Vice President & Senior General Manager at MHI, emphasized the importance of this mission in pioneering new possibilities for Japan's space sector.
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