[Release] "3 Years Since Founding, 1 Year of Planning" Japan's First Private Space Startup Announces "ASCA 1 Mission" for Rocket Vertical Take-off and Landing Experiments in the United States

Hello everyone!
I'm Masatomo Ikeda, Editor-in-Chief of Space Business MEDIA!
We have received big news from Innovative Space Carrier, a company whose releases and press conferences I have covered many times!!
First, please take a look at the release from the rapidly advancing Innovative Space Carrier!

~Signing Ceremony for Basic Agreement on Collaboration with JFEE and First Public Reveal of New Base 'Tsurumi Base'~

Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kojiro Hatada; hereinafter "ISC") is a startup company aiming to realize a space transportation system that enables space travel, with the vision of "A world where people and cargo are delivered every day. That kind of normalcy, even in space."

ISC has announced the outline of the "ASCA 1 Mission," which is scheduled to be conducted in the United States within 2025.This mission is the first launch and landing experiment of a vertical take-off and landing space rocket by a private space startup in Japan.
Also, this will be the first launch test in the United States by a Japanese company.
In addition, on Wednesday, May 28, a signing ceremony for a basic agreement to utilize the resources of JFE Engineering Corporation (President: Kazumi Fukuda; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "JFEE") was held, and the development base "Innovative Space Carrier Tsurumi Base" was unveiled to the press for the first time.

■ "ASCA Mission" Overview

The "ASCA Mission" is a reusable rocket development project originating from Japan that is being independently promoted by ISC, and it is our core project aimed at increasing the frequency and reducing the cost of space transportation.
"ASCA 1.0" is a technical demonstration vehicle in its initial phase, aiming to lift the vehicle to an altitude of 0.1 km or more and land it within a 5m margin of error at the target landing site, with the goal of acquiring data through this experiment.
The "ASCA 1.0" test being conducted this time began its conceptualization (design and manufacturing) in October 2024, and development is underway with the goal of conducting a launch test in the United States within 2025.
Normally, even initial-stage rocket launch tests generally proceed on a multi-year development and testing schedule.
One of the factors enabling the short-term launch of "ASCA 1.0" is the agile development system adopted by ISC.
Unlike the conventional waterfall model, this system, which iteratively repeats development and verification and immediately reflects feedback, has enabled the establishment of a demonstration test system in about one year from the start of conceptualization.
Following "ASCA 1.0," for which the mission outline was announced this time, we are planning "ASCA 1.1" to conduct suborbital flight experiments in the first half of 2027, and "ASCA 1.2" to conduct satellite orbit insertion experiments in the first half of 2028, aiming for step-by-step development and future practical application.

【"ASCA 1.0" Test Schedule】

・Scheduled launch test period: Within 2025
・Flight altitude: 0.1 km
・Objective: Demonstration of vertical take-off and landing
・Features: 1. Hadley engine x 2 units (manufactured by Ursa Major Technologies, USA) 2. Approximately 40% of the vehicle mass is manufactured using a 3D printer
* Manufacturing using a metal 3D printer is the largest scale in Japan 3. Adopts Model Predictive Control (MPC)
Adopts "Model Predictive Control (MPC)" for take-off and landing guidance to perform high-precision control 4. Equipped with an autonomous flight safety system
Performs autonomous safety measures when vehicle health or flight path abnormalities are detected
・Location: Spaceport America (New Mexico, USA)
* This is the first vertical take-off and landing experiment by a Japanese private space startup at this facility

■ Basic Agreement Signing Ceremony with JFEE and New Development Base "Tsurumi Base"

On Wednesday, May 28, ISC and JFEE concluded a basic agreement for collaboration in development.
The two companies will cooperate on manufacturing facilities for rocket assembly work and share knowledge on precision machining and mechanical assembly that they have cultivated so far.
Also, at the signing ceremony, the development base "Innovative Space Carrier Tsurumi Base," newly established within JFEE's "Tsurumi Works," was unveiled to the press for the first time.
A tour for the press was also conducted, and Mr. Toda, Senior Executive Officer of JFEE, and Hatada, Representative of ISC, guided the attendees through the base.

■ Comment from Representative Director and President Kojiro Hatada

"The 'ASCA 1 Mission' is a major step toward the development of our reusable rocket.
It is a global challenge where we develop major components in Japan, develop fuel tanks with the cooperation of Cranfield University in the UK, transport them to the US, combine them with the Hadley engine developed by Ursa Major Technologies in the US to complete the rocket system, and then take on flight tests.
I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with JFEE regarding our domestic activity base and can open the Tsurumi Base.
Although many difficulties still lie ahead, we will work together as a team to realize the space transportation system that is essential for growing the space industry into a new core industry for Japan."

■ Comment from Mr. Shinichi Toda, Senior Executive Officer, JFE Engineering Corporation

Our Tsurumi Works possesses abundant technology and know-how in the fabrication, machining, and assembly of large industrial machinery.
In addition to that, we are actively incorporating the latest manufacturing technologies, such as introducing multiple metal additive manufacturing machines suitable for the aerospace industry, and are taking on the challenge of new manufacturing by fusing them with conventional machining technologies.
This combination of conventional and latest technologies has become our great strength.
Based on this agreement, we plan to cooperate in a wide range of areas, including providing manufacturing facilities for rocket assembly work.
With an eye toward participating in the establishment of a future mass production system, we will continue to actively develop space-related businesses that leverage our strengths toward the realization of the vision set forth by ISC: "A world where people and cargo are delivered every day. That kind of normalcy, even in space."
We hope to contribute to the strengthening of Japan's space industry supply chain and competitiveness, as well as the creation of new value.

■ ISC Company Overview
Innovative Space Carrier Inc.
English Name: Innovative Space Carrier Inc.
Representative: Representative Director Kojiro Hatada
Headquarters Address: 5F Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Date of Establishment: May 2, 2022
Total Funding: 1.22 billion yen
Business Description: Planning and study for the commercialization of innovative space transportation systems
URL: https://innovative-space-carrier.co.jp/

■ Biography of Representative Director and President Kojiro Hatada
Outside Director of ispace, inc.
After completing his master's degree at the Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University in 2004, he joined the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
After engaging in energy policy and industrial policy, he was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012 and worked at the Mission of Japan to the European Union and the Embassy of Japan in Belgium.
In 2015, he was seconded to the Cabinet Office's Space Development Strategy Promotion Secretariat, where he contributed to the expansion of private space business, such as the enactment of the Space Activities Act, the formulation of the Space Industry Vision 2030, and the creation of the space business idea contest S-Booster.
In 2017, he returned to METI and created the new startup support program J-Startup.
In 2018, he resigned from METI and joined Digital Hearts Holdings Co., Ltd., where he engaged in the launch of a cybersecurity talent discovery and development program, and established Digital Hearts Plus Co., Ltd. in 2019.
In May 2022, he founded Innovative Space Carrier Inc. and assumed the position of Representative Director.

■ JFEE Company Overview
JFE Engineering Corporation
English Name: JFE Engineering Corporation
Representative: Representative Director and President Kazumi Fukuda
Headquarters Address: 22F Hibiya International Building, 2-2-3 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Date of Establishment: April 2003
Capital: 10 billion yen
Business Description: Construction/manufacturing/operation of social infrastructure such as environment, energy, steel structures, and industrial machinery
URL: https://www.jfe-eng.co.jp/

■ Business Description
Established in 2003 as the engineering business company of the JFE Group under JFE Holdings, which was formed by the management integration of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation.
Develops businesses that build and operate a wide range of social infrastructure such as environmental and energy plants, bridges, and steel structures.
By providing products and services based on the group's comprehensive strength and advanced technical capabilities, it aims to be an engineering company that adapts to the changes of the times and always leads the world.
■ Tsurumi Works JFE Engineering's mechanical manufacturing base that possesses large machine tools and quays, and manufactures large industrial machinery such as shield tunneling machines, diesel engines, and steam turbines.
In recent years, it has introduced cutting-edge technologies such as metal 3D printers and continues to take on the challenge of new manufacturing by fusing them with the machining technologies it has cultivated over many years.

Postscript

Space venture Innovative Space Carrier (ISC) has begun a grand challenge that will surprise the world!

The "ASCA 1" mission is planned for 2025, aiming to demonstrate ultra-high-precision technology by first ascending to a height of 0.1 km and landing precisely at the target point with an error of only 5 meters.

What makes this challenge so remarkable? It is because it is the first step toward realizing a reusable rocket that is not just a one-time disposable!
If rockets can be used repeatedly, the cost of going to space will drop dramatically, bringing us much closer to a future where anyone can access space.

ISC's rocket is equipped with a powerful engine manufactured by the U.S.-based Ursa Major Technologies, and approximately 40% of the airframe is made using 3D printers.
This allows for shorter development times and rapid improvements.
Furthermore, high-precision control technology like AI-based "Model Predictive Control (MPC)" and an "Autonomous Flight Safety System" for emergencies support safe and accurate flight and landing.

This mission is being advanced using an "agile development" approach, where we learn from failures and continue to evolve.
Additionally, JFE Engineering, which supports Japan's heavy industry, has joined as a partner, making this a project that can be called a culmination of Japanese technological prowess.

If this technology is established, a future we never imagined awaits, where we can enjoy space travel more casually and space-based businesses can develop dramatically.
Japanese technology might just change the future of space in a big way. Please keep an eye on the "ASCA 1" mission, which holds such promise!