Japan’s commercial lunar company ispace says it has purchased ride-share capacity on SpaceX’s Starship to deliver payloads to the Moon. According to multiple reports, ispace has secured about 500 kilograms of lunar delivery capacity for roughly US$50 million. The company plans to use the arrangement to support a lower-cost lunar cargo service and to expand commercial access to the Moon. The sources also connect the agreement to an expected launch timeframe “as soon as 2030,” suggesting missions could begin during that period if SpaceX and ispace meet development and launch milestones. The deal positions ispace to combine its own mission and payload planning with Starship’s capability for lunar landings, enabling smaller customers to access Moon delivery services rather than relying solely on dedicated missions. The reporting focuses on the capacity purchase, the projected timing for Moon landings, and ispace’s aim to grow a commercial lunar logistics offering by 2030.
ispace buys Starship capacity for lunar cargo rideshare with SpaceX
Japan’s commercial lunar company ispace says it has purchased ride-share capacity on SpaceX’s Starship to deliver payloads to the Moon. According to multiple reports, ispace has secured about 500 kilo...
- ispace, a Japan-based commercial space company, purchases capacity on SpaceX’s Starship for lunar delivery.
- The purchased capacity is reported as about 500 kilograms for about US$50 million.
- ispace plans to use the arrangement for a lower-cost lunar cargo, ride-share style service.
- Multiple sources indicate lunar missions could land “as soon as 2030” or by around 2030.
- The reports describe the goal of expanding commercial access to the Moon using Starship landings.
Japan's ispace will launch a lower-cost lunar cargo service using SpaceX's Starship, aiming to expand commercial access to the Moon by 2030
1 month agoTokyo-based Ispace has bought 500 kilograms of capacity for $50 million on a Starship that would land on the moon as soon as 2030.
1 month ago
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