INNOVATIVE SPACE CARRIER INC.(CHUO-KU, TOKYO; CEO; KOJIRO HATADA, HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS "ISC") IS "A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE AND CARGO ARE DELIVERED EVERY DAY. WE ARE A START-UP COMPANY THAT AIMS TO REALIZE A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT MAKES SPACE POSSIBLE, WITH THE VISION OF "MAKING SUCH THINGS POSSIBLE IN SPACE. ( REUSABLE) IS A START-UP COMPANY THAT AIMS TO REALIZE A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT MAKES SPACE POSSIBLE.
("Letara") in January 2025 and will begin joint development of a hybrid engine rocket system.
background
FOUNDED IN MAY 2022, ISC HAS SET A CHALLENGING GOAL: "WE AIM TO PUT A SATELLITE INTO ORBIT BY 2028. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, ISC IS COLLABORATING WITH PARTNER COMPANIES IN JAPAN AND OVERSEAS AND PROMOTING AGILE DEVELOPMENT.
In particular, we are studying a wide range of methods for the development of engines, which are highly important and technically challenging in rocket development.
In addition to promoting in-house development, in April last year we entered into a partnership with Ursa Major Technologies, an American rocket engine developer, and last summer we signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Ebara Corporation, aiming to develop a rocket engine utilizing the electric pump developed by Ebara Corporation. Ltd. last summer, with the aim of developing a rocket engine that utilizes the electric pump developed by EBARA.
We have decided to conclude a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Letara in order to increase the certainty of development by promptly adding options that are expected to be flight-demonstrated at an early date.
THE CONTENT OF THIS COLLABORATION WAS PROPOSED TO THE STAGE GATE REVIEW COMMITTEE OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE, SPORTS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY'S SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE INNOVATION PROMOTION PROJECT (SBIR PHASE 3) IN THE SPACE FIELD (PROJECT THEME: DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF COMMERCIAL ROCKETS) AND RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF BUDGET.
reference
Signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with EBARA CORPORATION. Aiming to develop a rocket engine using an electric pump developed by the company (announced on September 27, 2024)
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/articles/20240927/
Started cooperation with a U.S. company. Also established a local subsidiary (announced on April 4, 2024)
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/articles/20240404/
The Stage-Gate Review Committee for SBIR Phase 3 projects has decided to allocate an additional 85 million yen (announced February 21, 2025)
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/articles/202502211/
Utilize results of previous studies to add engine development options
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF ROCKET ENGINES: LIQUID-FUEL ENGINES, SOLID-FUEL ENGINES, AND HYBRID ENGINES THAT COMBINE LIQUID AND SOLID FUELS.
We will now also begin to consider a hybrid engine rocket system with the aim of increasing the certainty of development by quickly adding an option that is expected to be flight-demonstrated at an early date.
The hybrid engine shares the same oxidizer supply tanks, turbo pumps, piping, valves, etc. with liquid rocket engines, and it is thought to be possible to aim for an early flight demonstration using solid rocket technology with high technological maturity, while making maximum use of the results of studies that have been conducted for liquid fuel engines. The solid rocket technology is at a high level of technological maturity.
Company introduction from "Letara Corporation", a start-up company from Nagata Laboratory, Hokkaido University
Letara is a Hokkaido University-certified start-up company established in 2020 with the aim of implementing hybrid rocket technology developed at the Harunori Nagata Laboratory (Department of Space Systems Engineering, Division of Mechanical and Space Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering) at Hokkaido University into society.
The CAMUI rocket, which is the basis of Letara's technology, has been developed and tested for more than 20 years, and has a proven track record of launching numerous rockets utilizing large hybrid engines. The CAMUI rocket, which is the basis of Letara's technology, is a rocket technology originating in Japan that has been developed and tested for more than 20 years and has a proven track record of launching numerous rockets utilizing large hybrid engines.
COMPARED TO LIQUID-FUELED ENGINES, HYBRID PROPULSION HAS A SIMPLER STRUCTURE AND IS EASIER TO HANDLE, RESULTING IN HIGHER SAFETY, SUPERIOR COST EFFICIENCY, AND SHORTER DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING TIMES. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE HIGHLY COMPATIBLE WITH ISC'S GOAL OF A SUSTAINABLE AND FLEXIBLE LAUNCH VEHICLE SYSTEM, AND ENABLE RAPID CONSTRUCTION OF FULL-SCALE SYSTEMS WHILE MINIMIZING DEVELOPMENT RISKS.
We will establish a development system to realize the launch in 2028 through system design, study, and combustion tests.
COMMENT FROM KOJIRO HATADA, CEO, FUTURE SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
ISC aims to move away from the traditional waterfall approach to rocket development and pursue agile rocket development that constantly pursues the optimal rocket by combining various options. Through this collaboration with Letara, ISC will accelerate its study to add hybrid engine technology as an option. In particular, we feel that Letara is a company full of passion, which is extraordinary among the many startups. We are excited about the new possibilities that will be created through collaboration between the two companies.
Comment from Kemps Landon, Co-CEO and Founder, Letara Inc.
Letara, in collaboration with ISC, is taking on the challenge of realizing a next-generation rocket that will pioneer the future of space access in Japan. The hybrid engine we are developing is based on CAMUI technology, which has been improved at Hokkaido University for more than 20 years, and has a proven track record of numerous launches. Hybrid propulsion is superior in terms of high safety, cost efficiency, and rapid development, and we will contribute to the realization of a competitive launch vehicle originating from Japan through its commercialization for the first flight in 2028.
■Future Space Carrier Inc. company profile
Corporate name Innovative Space Carrier Inc. Space Carrier Inc.
English name Innovative Space Carrier Inc.
Representative CEO Kojiro Hatada
Head office address 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Date of establishment May 2, 2022
Business description Innovative space transportation Planning and study for commercialization of innovative space transportation systems
URL https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/
■Letara K.K. Company Profile
Corporate Name Letara K.K.
English Name Letara Ltd
Representative Shodai Hirai, Kemps Landon Thomas
Head Office Address 2-10, Hassamu 9-jo 10-chome, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Date of Establishment June 23, 2020
Business Description Development and provision of propulsion systems for rockets and satellites
URL https://www.letara.space/ja
■We are actively recruiting personnel!
We want to go to space from Japan.
We take on challenges.
Aerospace technology x Knowledge of different industries x Backcast thinking
Create new industries with an eye on the future.
Let's do a job worth challenging with our life.
Click here for the employment page:
https://www.wantedly.com/companies/company_9146989
For business partnerships and other inquiries, click here
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/contact/
■ We are accepting "Advance Applications" for space travel
Please follow this link to apply.
https://forms.gle/TDc8HpdcR2zCU41t9