ISPACE PLANS LUNAR PAYLOAD SERVICE WITH SPACEX

Hakamada outlined the company's strategy to establish a dedicated lunar transportation service during an interview on Bloomberg: The Asia Trade. The partnership would utilize SpaceX's Starship vehicle as the launch platform for Ispace's payload operations. Ispace has positioned itself as a competitor in the emerging commercial lunar logistics market. The company previously operated the Hakuto-R lunar lander program, which attempted precision landings on the moon. By integrating with Starship, Ispace aims to offer reliable cargo transport for government agencies, research institutions, and private customers seeking lunar delivery capabilities. The service would address growing demand for lunar surface operations as space agencies and companies pursue moon exploration initiatives. No timeline or specific launch dates were disclosed during the announcement. The agreement represents another instance of SpaceX's Starship being central to multiple companies' space transportation strategies.