8 May, 2025
TOKYO– May 8, 2025 –ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, announced today that it has signed an agreement with KDDI to support initial planning and research for a lunar mobile communications under the Japan Space Strategy Fund.
Through this agreement, ispace will conduct research and develop plans regarding the timing, location, use cases, communication functions, and performance requirements for lunar exploration missions as part of the Space Strategy Fund for the “Development and Demonstration of a Moon-Earth Communication System.”
KDDI was selected in November 2024, to lead feasibility studies in collaboration with other partner organizations to explore the potential for a high-capacity communications system between Earth and the Moon. In this context, ispace has been tasked by KDDI to support the mission requirement survey and constraint analysis, the baselines for the research, and will collaborate in efforts to realize high-capacity communication connecting Earth and the Moon.
“We are honored to have been selected by KDDI to conduct research on lunar mobile communications as part of Japan’s initiative to develop a robust communication system between the Moon and Earth,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Going forward, we anticipate significant advancements in space communication, including the transition to demonstration and operational phases. This is a critical business for ispace’s vision of building a cislunar economy, and we are thrilled to contribute to this important first step toward realizing that future.”
For the study, ispace will leverage knowledge gained from its previous and ongoing lunar exploration missions to develop mission requirements and technical constraints for mobile communications on the lunar surface. By providing foundational data for future communication infrastructure development, taking into account the unique communication environment and operational conditions on the lunar surface, ispace will support KDDI’s technical evaluations.
Japan’s Space Strategy Fund is a 1 trillion yen fund established to support bold technological development efforts by private-sector startups, universities, and others over a period of up to 10 years, aiming at three key goals: “expanding the space market,” “solving global and social issues,” and “pioneering frontier” across three focus areas: “space transport,” “satellites” and “space exploration.” The fund is based on policy guidelines set forth by the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
About ispace
ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with approximately 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.