ー Company evaluated as priority launch operator for Hokkaido Spaceport’s new LC1 ー
Taiki Town Office, which operates “Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)”, a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, has signed a Foundational Agreement with Interstellar Technologies Inc. naming the company as a preferred entity of Hokkaido Spaceport’s Launch Complex 1 (LC1). The two parties will move forward with discussions toward a detailed contract.
Taiki Town Office, which operates “Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)”, a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia, has signed a Foundational Agreement with Interstellar Technologies Inc. designating the company as a priority entity of Hokkaido Spaceport’s Launch Complex 1 (LC1).
A world-class spaceport with top-level geographic advantages for launches to the east and south
Taiki Town has been inviting the aerospace industry for 40 years since 1985 because of its geographical advantages–including open ocean to the east and south, ideal for rocket launches, and expansive land suitable for developing and expanding launch facilities. Interstellar Technologies began their business in 2013 with its headquarters in Taiki Town. In 2019 and 2021, they launched the Suborbital Launch Vehicle MOMO from Launch Complex 0 (LC0), a launch and test site in HOSPO, and successfully reached outer space three times.
HOSPO is a commercial spaceport open to the private sector, and is unique in that it can accommodate various orbits and has excellent accessibility from Tokyo– making it one of the most convenient spaceports in the world. Taiki Town is constructing LC1 as the next launch site following LC0, and issued a request for information (RFI) *1 in December 2024 to publicly invite a launch service provider for LC1.
This Foundational Agreement was signed following an evaluation of Interstellar Technologies, which is developing the Orbital Launch Vehicle ZERO. Among the nine domestic and international entities that responded to the RFI, the company was deemed to have the most concrete and feasible plan.
We will steadily proceed with the construction of LC1 toward the early completion and further accelerate its efforts to establish a space-focused innovation hub, with HOSPO at its core–aiming to create the “Silicon Valley of space.”
*1 Request for information to develop an operational plan of Hokkaido Spaceport LC1
https://hokkaidospaceport.com/en/news/1602
Statement
Takahiro Inagawa, CEO of Interstellar Technologies, Inc
We are truly honored to be recognized as the top candidate for LC1 and to have signed this Foundational Agreement. Since launching our business in Taiki Town 12 years ago, Interstellar has built a strong track record, with seven launches of our suborbital vehicle MOMO and numerous other tests and operations counting up to eighteen launches. Our continued growth would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Taiki Town and its residents. As a leading private space transportation company in Japan, Interstellar is committed to enhancing the nation’s launch capabilities through ZERO’s orbital missions from LC1. We will also remain deeply engaged in supporting regional development by fostering a vibrant, space-oriented community around Hokkaido Spaceport.
Yutaka Kurokawa, Mayor of Taiki Town
We have signed to this Foundational Agreement based on the results of last year’s RFI, which identified Interstellar Technologies Inc. as the company with the most concrete plan for developing an operational strategy for LC1. With this Foundational Agreement, Interstellar Technologies will be the entity to utilize LC1–a launch site open to the private sector–, immediately upon its completion. The company is headquartered here in Taik and has long supported our vision of building a “town of space.” We are very excited to envision a future where launch vehicles made in Taiki–developed and launched entirely within the town–take off from LC1. Our town will continue to accelerate its efforts to create a “Silicon Valley of Space” with HOSPO at its core, while promoting regional development through the advancement on a “town of space.”
About Interstellar Technologies
Interstellar Technologies Inc. is a Japanese start-up building space infrastructure through affordable launch services and innovative satellite solutions to make space accessible for everyone. Headquartered in Taiki, Hokkaido, Interstellar’s product development extends across four locations, including branches in Tokyo, Fukushima, and Obihiro. Interstellar has achieved three successful spaceflights with suborbital launch vehicle MOMO, making it Japan’s first private company to reach space. Currently, Interstellar is developing the orbital class launch vehicle ZERO. Additionally, Interstellar leads a satellite development project, pioneering Japan’s vertically integrated rocket-satellite communication service.
- Location: 149-7 Memu, Taiki, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
- Representative: Takahiro Inagawa, Chief Executive Officer
- Business: Space Transportation Services, Satellite Communications Service
- Website: https://www.istellartech.com/en
About Taiki Town
- Representative: Yutaka Kurokawa, Mayor
- Location: 33 Higashihon-dori, Taiki Town, Hiroo District, Hokkaido, Japan
- Overview: A town with a population of 5,300 where agriculture, fishing, and forestry are the core industries. The town was recognized as suitable for an aerospace base in 1984, and has been promoting development of town of space for about 40 years since then. In 2022, construction of “Launch Complex 1 (LC1)”, a rocket launch site for the launch of small satellites has begun. The goal is to create an aerospace industry hub and ecosystem with Hokkaido Spaceport as its core.
- Website: https://www.town.taiki.hokkaido.jp
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 the vision of creating an aerospace industry hub and ecosystem, developments are underway on 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, SPACE COTAN will explore potential strategic partnerships aimed at establishing international spaceport standards.
Furthermore, SPACE COTAN was selected in January 2025 for the Japanese government’s Space Strategy Fund and will use the funding to develop ground-based technologies that support high-frequency launches of various launch vehicles.
Future image of Hokkaido Spaceport