Taiki Town Office and SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. have completed their verification of safety management for the launch of jtSPACE Co., Ltd.’s two-stage suborbital rocket “VP01,” conducted on Saturday, July 12, at Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO).
Roles and Responsibilities in the Launch
The launch was carried out with the following division of responsibilities:
jtSPACE
1. Execution of the launch
2. Safety management during launch (ensuring safety on land, at sea, and in the air)
3. Submission of a report on the results of safety measures related to item 2
Taiki Town / SPACE COTAN
4. Coordination with relevant authorities and local communities
5. Safety review (Note 1)
6. Verification of launch results (Note 2)
Note 1: Safety Review
The validity of safety measures was assessed in accordance with the “HOSPO Safety Management Policy” and “HOSPO Safety Standards (Suborbital),” which are based on the Guidelines for the Safe Implementation of Ballistic Rocket Launches issued by the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC) and the Local Guidelines for Safe Ballistic Rocket Launches in Taiki Town.
Note 2: Verification of Launch Results
Verification involved confirming that operations were conducted in compliance with the contents approved during the safety review.
Verification Results by Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN
Based on the launch report submitted by jtSPACE, Taiki Town and SPACE COTAN confirmed the following key points and concluded that the VP01 launch was conducted safely:
- Safety management during launch (item 2) was implemented in accordance with the decision criteria and procedures approved during the safety review.
- After an anomaly occurred following liftoff, the Flight Termination System (FTS) (Note 3) was activated in accordance with the approved decision criteria and procedures. As a result, both the first-stage rocket (M1) and second-stage rocket (M2) fell within the predesignated safety zone (see diagram below).
Note 3: FTS (Flight Termination System)
A mechanism used to terminate flight to ensure public safety if a rocket deviates from its planned trajectory due to an anomaly.
About the rocket
- Name: 2-stage suborbital rocket “VP01”
- Total Length: 12m
- Diameter: 0.6m
- Weight: 1.4t
- Engine: Hybrid system using synthetic rubber as solid fuel and nitrous oxide (N2O) as oxidizer
- Thrust: first stage; 6,500 kgf, second stage; 1,100 kgf
- Maximum altitude: Approximately 100km
About jtSPACE Co., Ltd.
- Representative: Yung-Yu Liu, President and CEO
- Location: 3-700-8, Shinko-minami, Ishikari City, Hokkaido, Japan
- Business Overview: Providing integrated space transportation solutions from launch vehicle development, manufacturing, and launch services by utilizing proprietary hybrid rocket propulsion system technology.
- Website: https://www.jtspace.co.jp/
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 the development of the “Town of Space” for about 40 years since then. In 2022, construction began on “Launch Complex 1 (LC1)”, a dedicated launch site for small satellite launch vehicles. 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 SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd.
- Representative: Yoshinori Odagiri, President and CEO
- Location: 98 Nishihondori, Taiki Town, Hiroo District, 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 launch vehicles 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.
