Requirements Definition and Verification Plan Finalized for Launch Site System
SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd., the operator of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO), was selected in January 2025 for the Space Strategy Fund’s technology development initiative, “Ground Systems for Future Transportation.” Since then, the company has been engaged in research and development of launch site infrastructure technologies aimed at enabling frequent launches.
The following is an update on major activities as of August 2025.
① Quarterly Progress Meeting on the Space Strategy Fund Project
On July 18, SPACE COTAN held a quarterly progress meeting for the Space Strategy Fund project. Attendees included Mr. Naohiko Kotake, Program Officer (PO); Assistant POs Mr. Yoshinori Ueda, Mr. Ko Ogasawara, and Mr. Yoshiaki Tsuda; representatives from JAXA, including General Producer (GP) Mr. Koichi Okita; and members of partner organizations.
From SPACE COTAN, CEO Mr. Yoshinori Odagiri, Principal Investigator Mr. Hiroki Furihata, and project managers reported on the progress and outcomes of research activities conducted during the first quarter of FY2025. Key updates included the following:
- Completion of requirements definition for the overall launch site system and its technical challenges (interface standardization, cryogenic propellant control, common radio systems, and meteorological forecasting technologies).
- Completion of verification planning for the overall launch site system and its technical challenges.
- Discussion of future initiatives, including timelines and funding.
Looking ahead, SPACE COTAN will establish test environments for technology demonstrations, carry out basic and detailed design of prototype models for each technical challenge, and proceed with fabrication.
The company also plans to collect meteorological data (e.g., wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity) using various observation instruments and build a database of meteorological conditions around HOSPO.
Photo: Meteorological observation experiment using a radiosonde conducted on July 23
② Visit by Space Strategy Fund Program Director Mr. Masayasu Ishida
On June 6, Program Director (PD) Mr. Masayasu Ishida of the Space Strategy Fund visited HOSPO. During the visit, he discussed the commercial spaceport project with SPACE COTAN CEO Mr. Yoshinori Odagiri and toured HOSPO’s 1,300-meter runway and the under-construction Launch Complex 1 (LC1).
③ Opening of SPACE COTAN’s Tokyo Office
On June 1, SPACE COTAN opened a Tokyo office at Expert Office Shimbashi (Room 803, 9th Floor, Saiwai Building, 1-3-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo). The office will serve as a space for meetings with JAXA and partner organizations, as well as for internal discussions, to facilitate smooth progress of research and development under the Space Strategy Fund.
About Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)
HOSPO is a commercial spaceport in Asia open to the private sector, located in Taiki, Japan. For over 40 years, Taiki Town has actively attracted the aerospace industry and is regarded as one of the most suitable locations for a world-class spaceport, due to its geographical advantages: open seas to the east and south for launch trajectories and expansive land for future site expansion.
The suborbital launch site “LC0” is already operational, with private launch vehicles having reached space three times to date. To realize its vision of creating an “aerospace industry hub and ecosystem,” development is 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.
In addition, in July 2025, jtSPACE Co., Ltd., a Japanese sister company of a Taiwanese company, conducted the nation’s first suborbital rocket launch funded by foreign capital at HOSPO.
