Advancing Japan’s Reusable Space Transportation
Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (ISC), a Tokyo-based aerospace startup founded in 2022, is spearheading Japan’s efforts to develop reusable launch vehicles. With a vision to make space accessible to everyone by 2040, ISC is focusing on creating cost-effective, high-frequency, single-stage, reusable space transportation systems.
Company Overview
ISC was established by Kojiro Hatada, a former government official, with the mission to revolutionize space transportation. The company’s approach combines Japan’s manufacturing expertise with cutting-edge aerospace and IT technologies. By forming partnerships with various companies and institutions, ISC aims to overcome the challenges of developing reusable space vehicles.
ASCA Program: Developing Reusable Launch Vehicles
The ASCA (Advanced Space Carrier Architecture) program is ISC’s flagship project, aiming to develop a series of reusable launch vehicles. The initial prototype, ASCA 1.0, is designed for suborbital flights and will undergo a 100-meter flight and landing test at Spaceport America in New Mexico in December 2025.
ASCA 1.0 utilizes the Hadley rocket engine developed by U.S.-based Ursa Major Technologies. This collaboration marks the first commercial U.S.-Japan rocket partnership, reflecting ISC’s strategy of leveraging international technologies to build Japan’s independent space transportation capabilities.
Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations
ISC has established several key partnerships to accelerate its development efforts:
- Ursa Major Technologies: ISC has partnered with Ursa Major to utilize their Hadley rocket engines for the ASCA program. Ursa Major has agreed to deliver ten Hadley engines to ISC’s U.S. subsidiary, Sirius Technologies, expanding their partnership to further safe, cost-effective access to space.
- WAAM3D and Cranfield University: ISC collaborates with UK-based WAAM3D and Cranfield University to develop components and structures using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of propellant tanks for space transportation systems.
- Letara Inc.: ISC has entered into a strategic partnership with Letara Inc., a company specializing in hybrid propulsion systems, to co-develop Japan’s first large-scale hybrid rocket engine capable of delivering payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO).
- Asahi Kasei Corporation: ISC signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Asahi Kasei Corporation to realize next-generation space transportation systems by utilizing the company’s propulsion system technology.
Expansion into the United States
To facilitate its test launches and development activities, ISC established a U.S. subsidiary, Sirius Technologies, in Colorado. Sirius Technologies has signed a two-year lease at Spaceport America in New Mexico, where ISC plans to test and develop rocket engines and launch vehicles.
Government Support and Recognition
ISC has received support from the Japanese government, including rocket development subsidies alongside other domestic startups such as Space One and Interstellar Technologies. The company was also selected as one of the 5th round of “J-Startup” companies, a program aimed at supporting promising startups in Japan.
Future Outlook
ISC aims to develop an orbital launch vehicle by 2028 to cater to emerging Japanese satellite makers. The company plans to lower the per-launch cost of a rocket capable of lifting a 100kg satellite to space to 500 million yen in the long run.
Ultimately, ISC envisions creating a Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO) vehicle capable of transporting people and cargo to space or enabling point-to-point travel anywhere on Earth in under 90 minutes.
Through strategic partnerships, government support, and a clear vision, Innovative Space Carrier Inc. is positioning itself as a key player in the development of reusable space transportation systems, contributing to Japan’s growing space industry.
