In a historic move, Japanese space exploration firm ispace has listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, ahead of its first-ever lunar landing mission. The company’s successful initial public offering (IPO) has already seen its shares surge on the market.
Founded in 2010, ispace has been dedicated to advancing space exploration and making it accessible to all. The company has been working towards a mission to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface and establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
The IPO has raised over ¥46.6 billion (approximately $420 million), making it the largest funding round for a space company in Japanese history. ispace’s CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, expressed his gratitude to investors for their support, saying, “We are honored to have their trust in our vision to make space accessible to all.”
The successful IPO also marks a significant milestone for the Japanese space industry, which has traditionally been dominated by government agencies. ispace’s listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange signals a shift towards greater private sector involvement in space exploration.
ispace plans to use the funding to further develop its lunar lander and rover technologies, as well as to fund future missions to the Moon and beyond. The company’s first lunar landing mission is set to take place in 2022, with a follow-up mission planned for 2023.
The missions will involve sending ispace’s lander and rover to explore the lunar surface and collect data that will help pave the way for future lunar missions. ispace has also partnered with several companies and organizations, including the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to further its mission of advancing space exploration.
The listing has drawn attention from investors and space enthusiasts worldwide, with many hailing ispace’s vision for the future of space exploration. As Hakamada stated, “Our mission is not just to explore the Moon, but to create a sustainable future in space. We believe that the Moon is the first step towards that future, and we are committed to making it accessible to all.”
ispace’s successful IPO and upcoming lunar missions serve as a testament to the growing importance of the private sector in the space industry. With its pioneering spirit and dedication to making space accessible to all, ispace is leading the way towards a new era of space exploration.