Tag: JAXA
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NASA and IBM Open-Source Lunar Foundation AI Model to Accelerate Moon Science
NASA and IBM have released the NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model, one of the first publicly available foundation models developed specifically for scientific exploration of the Moon. Trained on a large, multi-instrument lunar dataset assembled by researchers from both organizations, the model is designed to extract new insights from decades of observations and support scientific and…
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ESA and ispace-Europe Formalize €65 Million MAGPIE Lunar Ice Rover Mission
The European Space Agency and ispace-Europe have formally signed the implementation agreement for MAGPIE, a commercially led rover mission designed to investigate water ice and subsurface geology near the Moon’s south pole. The Phase 2 agreement was signed on September 1, 2026, during ESA’s Space for Inspiration event in Copenhagen, Denmark. The ceremony followed ESA’s…
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Isar Aerospace to Launch Astroscale’s ADRAS-J2 Mission to Capture and Remove Three-Ton Space Debris
Astroscale Japan has selected Isar Aerospace to launch ADRAS-J2, a robotic spacecraft designed to capture and deorbit a three-ton abandoned rocket stage. The mission is intended to become the first to remove an existing large piece of orbital debris that was not designed for servicing or retrieval. The companies announced the launch agreement on September…
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Japan Sets October 20 Launch for Ambitious Mars Moon Sample-Return Mission
Japan has confirmed October 20, 2026, as the launch date for its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft, setting the stage for one of the most ambitious robotic planetary missions yet attempted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The MMX spacecraft is scheduled to lift off aboard Japan’s H3 rocket at 4:41 a.m. Japan Standard…
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JAXA Sets October 20 Launch for MMX Mars Moon Sample-Return Mission
Japan is preparing to take a major step in planetary exploration with the launch of its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft on Oct. 20, 2026. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the mission will lift off aboard the No. 10 H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:41:03 a.m. local…
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Letara Raises ¥2.6 Billion to Advance Low-Cost Hybrid Rocket Engines for Space and Defense Markets
Japanese propulsion startup Letara has secured approximately ¥2.6 billion ($16 million) in a Pre-Series A funding round as it seeks to commercialize a new generation of low-cost hybrid rocket engines designed for satellite propulsion, launch vehicles, and defense applications. The Sapporo-based company announced the financing on Aug. 20, saying the round was co-led by Headline…
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JAXA RV-X Completes 10m Hop Test at Noshiro
Did JAXA Just Fly Japan’s First Reusable Rocket Prototype? JAXA’s RV-X experimental vehicle lifted 10 meters off a concrete pad at the Noshiro test facility on July 11, 2026 — a 40-second hop that marks Japan’s first successful flight of a reusable rocket prototype. The 7.3-meter-tall, single-engine vehicle rose just over 10 meters, translated approximately…
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AST Eyes $1B Notes as Vikram-1 Targets Orbit
What Is Driving AST SpaceMobile Toward Vertical Launch Integration? AST SpaceMobile announced $1 billion in convertible notes — and its stock dropped more than 10 percent the same evening. The stated rationale tells the more important story: the direct-to-device satellite operator says it needs more rockets, and it is explicitly considering "partnerships and/or acquisitions" to…
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Japanese Reentry Startup ElevationSpace Raises $40 Million Series B to Expand Global Operations
Japanese space technology startup ElevationSpace has raised $40 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to approximately $63.5 million as the company advances its satellite reentry and space transportation technologies. The latest round included participation from existing investors SPARX Asset Management and Beyond Next Ventures, alongside several corporate investors, including automotive…
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Japan’s H3 to returns to flight with debut launch of lightest configuration
Japan’s H3 rocket successfully returned to flight Friday, with a launch that also marked the debut of a new configuration, optimized for smaller payloads. Liftoff took place at 00:53 UTC (9:53 a.m. local time) from the Tanegashima Space Center. Friday’s launch was the eighth flight of the H3, and its first since a failure last…