Hokkaido, Japan – Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. (SPACE COTAN), which operate “Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)”, a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, announced that the Tokai Student Rocket Project (TSRP) of Tokai University successfully conducted a hybrid rocket launch test in Taiki Town, Hokkaido.
In this test, a pitot tube (*1) was newly installed to measure speed more accurately, aiming to support altitude calculations and aerodynamic analysis for future high-altitude rocket launches. Additionally, the test aimed to demonstrate the functionality of the parachute system.
As a result, the launch, vehicle recovery, speed measurement using the pitot tube, and parachute deployment were all successfully completed.
Based on these results, the project will continue steady development toward reaching outer space in the future.
TSRP has been conducting experiments in Taiki Town since 2004, and this marks its 30th launch.
Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN currently host about 40 aerospace-related experiments annually at HOSPO and its surrounding facilities. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance the environment for research and experimentation, contributing to the advancement of aerospace technology, industry development, and human resource cultivation.
*1 Pitot tube：A device used to measure the flow velocity of fluids (mainly air and water). It is commonly utilized in aircraft speedometers and other velocity measurement instruments.
Test Overview
- Date: March 8, 2025
- Location: Bisei, Taiki Town, Hiroo, Hokkaido
- Objective: Ensuring a reliable launch and vehicle recovery. Verification and data analysis of the pitot tube and parachute.
- Results: The rocket reached an altitude of 408 meters and landed 524 meters north-northeast of the launch site. The launch was successful, and the vehicle was recovered. Both the pitot tube and the parachute were confirmed to function properly.
Rocket Overview
- Name: Hybrid Rocket No. 60 (TSRP H-60)
- Structure: Modular design primarily using GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) tubing
- Engine: Solid wax fuel with liquefied nitrous oxide as the oxidizer
- Total Length: 1.9 m
- Diameter: 154 mm
- Weight: 12 kg
About Tokai Student Rocket Project/TSRP
- Advisor: Yo Kawabata, Lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering
- Leader: Jo Ogura, 2nd year, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Engineering
- Location: 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa, Japan
- Overview: Founded in 1995, the Tokai Student Rocket Project (TSRP) aims to provide practical knowledge and technical skills to students aspiring to become space engineers. The team conducts two rocket launches annually—one at the Noshiro Space Event in Akita Prefecture and another in Taiki Town, Hokkaido. A total of 53 rockets have been launched to date.
- Website: https://tsrp.shn.u-tokai.ac.jp/jp/
About Taiki Town
- Representative: Mayor Yutaka Kurokawa
- Location: 33 Higashihon-dori, Taiki Town, Hiroo District, Hokkaido, Japan
- Overview: A town with a population of 5,400 where agriculture, fishing, and forestry are the core industries. The town began attracting aerospace experiments in 1985, and has been promoting the development of a space city for about 40 years since then. Hokkaido Spaceport was opened in 2021 as the global commercial spaceport in Taiki Town. The goal is to create an aerospace industry cluster and ecosystem with Hokkaido Spaceport as its core.
- Website: https://www.town.taiki.hokkaido.jp
About SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd.
- Representative: Yoshinori Odagiri, President and CEO
- Location: 98 Nishihondori, Taiki Town, Hiroo, Hokkaido
- Business Overview: Overall promotion of HOSPO project based on mandate from the Taiki town, and operation of HOSPO.
- Website: https://hokkaidospaceport.com/
About Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)
HOSPO is a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, which was established in Taiki, Japan.
Taiki Town has been attracting the aerospace industry for 40 years, and is said to be one of the most suitable locations for a world-class spaceport due to its geographical advantages, such as an expansive sea to the east and south for launching, and a large land area that allows for high expansion of the launch site. The suborbital launch site “LC0” is already in operation, and private rockets have reached space three times in the past. To realize our vision of “creating an aerospace industry cluster and ecosystem”, we are developing a new orbital launch site “LC1”.
In October 2024, Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) , committing to expand international spaceport collaboration with eight commercial spaceports located across five continents. In order to meet the growing demand for launches, we will explore potential strategic collaborations to establish international spaceport standards.
Furthermore, SPACE COTAN has just been selected for the Space Strategy Fund from the Japanese Government in January, 2025. We will develop ground-based technologies for high-frequency launches of various launch vehicles.
