Key facts
- ispace will use Japan's H3 rocket for its 2028 lunar lander mission.
- The company signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the launch.
- This marks the first time a Japanese startup will launch a payload on the H3 rocket.
- The new 'ULTRA' lander has a payload capacity of up to 200 kilograms.
- ispace's previous lunar missions utilized SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets.
- ispace will also deploy a rover on a SpaceX Starship mission in 2030.
Japan's ispace is set to utilize the nation's H3 heavy-lift rocket for its 2028 lunar lander mission, a significant shift from its previous reliance on SpaceX's Falcon 9. This decision marks the first time a Japanese startup will launch a payload on the H3, aiming to establish Japan's first privately-led lunar transportation system.
The agreement between ispace and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the H3's manufacturer, underscores a strategic move towards an 'All-Japan' framework. The new lander, dubbed 'ULTRA,' boasts a significantly increased payload capacity of up to 200 kilograms, seven times that of its predecessors, enabling the delivery of larger cargo and observation equipment.
While the H3 rocket has faced reliability challenges with two failures in eight launches, ispace's CEO Takeshi Hakamada expressed confidence in its suitability, citing factors beyond just national pride, including the rocket's capacity and loading flexibility. The yen's depreciation also makes dollar-denominated launches like SpaceX's more expensive for Japanese companies.
Despite the switch to the H3 for its third mission, ispace is not severing ties with SpaceX. The company has announced plans to send a Mobile Cargo System rover to the moon on a SpaceX Starship mission no earlier than 2030. Lessons learned from previous landing failures, attributed to issues with altitude recognition and velocity control, have led to improvements in the new lander's control systems, aiming to enhance overall mission reliability.