Japanese lunar exploration company ispace is expanding its moon plans by booking cargo space on SpaceX's Starship megarocket. The company secured 1,100 pounds of capacity on a future Starship lunar lander mission, marking a significant step toward delivering larger payloads to the lunar surface.
Under the agreement, ispace will utilize Starship's substantial cargo volume to transport equipment and experiments that exceed the capabilities of its current lander designs. The mission builds on ispace's existing lunar program, which includes its own landers, and leverages Starship's ability to carry heavier and bulkier cargo than available on smaller rockets.
No specific launch date has been announced for the Starship mission. ispace previously attempted two lunar landing missions: its first crashed in April 2023, while its second is slated for launch later this year aboard a Falcon 9. The company's use of Starship reflects a longer-term strategy to scale up payload deliveries as SpaceX progresses toward operational flights with the massive rocket.
The deal positions ispace among the early commercial customers for Starship's lunar services, which SpaceX plans to offer as part of NASA's Artemis program and private ventures. For ispace, it provides a path to compete with other lunar logistics firms, though Starship's development timeline and flight readiness remain uncertain given the vehicle's ongoing testing phase.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed by either company.