Future Space Transportation Systems and Letara jointly conduct combustion test of "CAMUI type synthetic rubber fuel rocket engine"

Innovative Space Carrier Inc. ISC’s vision is “to make the world a place where people and cargo can be delivered every day, even in space. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Kojiro Hatada, hereinafter referred to as “ISC”) is a start-up company that aims to realize a transportation system that enables space reusable.

(headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Shodai Hirai and Kemps Landon, representatives; hereinafter “Letara”) have jointly conducted combustion tests of a hybrid engine employing a CAMUI-type design.

 

The combustion test of a CAMUI-type hybrid rocket engine using HTPB (synthetic rubber) as fuel will be a necessary trial for the development of a rocket for satellite launches.

 

ASCA Mission, the first vertical takeoff and landing space rocket by a Japanese space startup

 

The “ASCA Mission” is the core project of ISC, which aims to develop Japan’s first reusable launch vehicle and to achieve higher frequency and lower cost of space transportation.
The ASCA 1.0 Mission, which is currently underway, is a technology demonstrator in the initial phase of the project and aims to climb to an altitude of 0.1 km or higher and land within a 5-meter margin of error at the target landing site to acquire a variety of data.

 

Related Releases: (May 2025)
Announces “ASCA 1 Mission,” Japan’s First Rocket Vertical Takeoff and Landing Experiment in the United States by a Private Space Startup
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/en/news/20250528/

 

 

Diverse development systems for “engines,” the heart of rockets

 

For the “ASCA 1.0 Mission,” we are collaborating with Ursa Major, a specialized engine manufacturer in the U.S., to jointly study engine development.

Related release: (April 2025)
Agreement with Ursa Major Technologies, a U.S. rocket engine developer, for future rocket engine development and additional procurement. Acceleration of launch tests .
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/en/news/20250409/

 

In parallel with this, we are also working on the development of engines developed in-house.
As a third option, we are also promoting research and development of a hybrid engine in collaboration with Letara. This is to diversify multiple risks such as performance, schedule, and cost, considering that the engine is the “heart” of rocket development.

ISC and Letara signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in April 2025 to strengthen their partnership.

Related Releases: (April 2025)
Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement with Letara Corporation
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/en/news/20250414/

 

 

Combustion test was conducted on Tuesday, July 1. Confirmed thrust of 5000 N and 7 seconds of combustion.

 

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, a combustion test of the hybrid rocket engine was conducted at the Letara Test Site in Akahira, Hokkaido, Japan, confirming the achievement of the target stable combustion for 7 seconds and thrust of 5000 N (Newton).

In this test, a special rubber material called “HTPB (synthetic rubber)” was used as fuel. This is a new alternative to the plastic-based fuels that have been widely used in the past, and understanding its combustion characteristics through combustion tests of CAMUI-type hybrid rockets using HTPB is a necessary step toward the development of rockets for satellite launches.

■ Test Overview
Test Objectives: 1. Confirmation of ignition and combustion of solid fuel with CAMUI type synthetic rubber material
2. Achievement of stable combustion for 7 seconds
3. Achievement of 5000 N thrust

Test Results: Ignition and 7-second continuous combustion with synthetic rubber fuel confirmed
Test Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Test Site: Letara Test Site (inside Uematsu Electric Corporation, 230-50 Kyowa-cho, Akahira, Hokkaido)

 

 

The CAMUI type is a design method that maintains the combustion area and stabilizes combustion by passing multiple hollow tubes (holes) inside the fuel. This structure, which allows combustion to continue while efficiently maintaining thrust, enables longer and more controllable combustion compared to common single-hole hybrid fuels.

The success of the “7 seconds/5000N” combustion test is an extremely significant milestone.
Seven seconds of continuous combustion is enough time to confirm that the combustion behavior is stable, and the large amount of data obtained during this time will enable precise analysis of the internal flow and combustion of the engine! The data obtained during this time allows for a precise analysis of the internal flow and combustion of the engine.
Through testing at a thrust level of 5000 N, we were also able to obtain data on the reliability of the engine design.

Based on the test data obtained this time, the two companies will jointly study the development of a satellite launch vehicle with a hybrid engine.

 

■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 human resources!

We want to go to space from Japan.
We take on the challenge.
Aerospace technology x Knowledge of different industries x Backcast thinking
Create new industries with an eye on the future.
Let’s do work that is worth the challenge of our lives.

 

Click here for the employment page:
https://hrmos.co/pages/innovative-space-carrier/jobs

 

For business partnerships and other inquiries, click here
https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/contact/

 

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Please follow this link to register.
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