Projects
2015
Signs a corporate partnership agreement with ispace, inc. to support its commercial lunar exploration team, HAKUTO.
2017
Enters into a capital and business alliance with ispace, inc.
2019
Signs a corporate partnership agreement with ispace, inc. for ispace, inc.’s commercial lunar exploration program, HAKUTO-R.
JAL Engineering USA Co., Ltd has started a space supply chain business for ispace, Inc.
2022
Selected by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as a participant in the “Feasibility Study for Sustainable Space Environment Utilization in Low Earth Orbit”.
Participation in a partnership to explore the utilization of the Dream Chaser® spaceplane
2023
Signs Basic Agreement with Innovative Space Carrier Inc. to Realize Safe Space Transportation (JALEC)
Signs Development Support Contract with Innovative Space Carrier Inc. for Assembly/Maintenance Required for Reusable Spacecraft Operations(JALEC)
2024
Signs a Basic Agreement with IWAYA regarding participation in OUP.
2025
Receives the “Selection Committee Special Award” at the 7th Japan Open Innovation Prize hosted by the Cabinet Office.
Released the expansion of its “Space Maintenance Engineer” and “Space MRO” businesses, and files trademarks for both terms.（JALEC）
Enters into a capital and business alliance with Innovative Space Carrier Inc. (JALEC)
Filed a trademark application for “Space Merchant” (JALUX)
Signs Development Support Agreement with IWAYA for cabin design of high-altitude manned balloons; Extends basic agreement on participation in OUP in the same year
ispace, inc., JAL, JALEC, and JALUX sign a Basic Agreement to establish the “Sisuruna Economic Zone,” a new economic sphere connecting Earth and the Moon.
ispace, inc.
Projects
Since joining the HAKUTO team as a corporate partner in 2015, a team that took part in the Google Lunar XPRIZE, JAL has continued to support ispace’s pioneering lunar exploration efforts.
In 2017, JAL entered into a capital and business alliance with ispace, inc., and in 2019, became a corporate partner for HAKUTO-R, Japan’s first private lunar exploration program.
For both Mission 1 and Mission 2 of HAKUTO-R, JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. (JALEC) provided technical support for fuel pipe welding, assembly and testing at its Engine Maintenance Center, while JALCARGO handled transportation to Japan of the “TENACIOUS” lunar micro-rover, which was mounted on the RESILIENCE lunar lander for Mission 2, and developed by ispace EUROPE S.A., based in Luxembourg.
Moving forward, JAL and ispace will continue to build on their respective strengths, advancing collaborative efforts toward the creation of a sustainable cislunar economy.
Sierra Space Corporation, Kanematsu Corporation, Oita Prefectural Government, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., and the Space Port Japan Association
Projects
Since December 2022, JAL has been part of a partnership with Sierra Space exploring the utilization of the Dream Chaser® spaceplane, collaborating with its partners to establish Oita Airport as the Asian hub for Dream Chaser operations.
This initiative aims to build an ecosystem in which the spaceplane is launched from Japan, transports cargo to space destinations, like the International Space Station (ISS), and returns to Japan.
It also seeks to transform Oita Airport into a spaceport, serving as a hub between space destinations and the ground for Japan and the broader Asian region, thereby contributing to regional revitalization and industrial development.
In addition, the project supports examination of rule-making and legal frameworks related to spaceplane re-entry, landing operations, and spaceport management. Each participating organization contributes through role-sharing, such as government outreach, feasibility studies for landing operations, and policy coordination.
By combining expertise across multiple industries, this collaboration has established a pioneering cross-sector partnership model driving new entrants into the space business. In recognition of its potential for future expansion, the initiative received the “Selection Committee Special Award” at the 7th Japan Open Innovation Prize, hosted by the Cabinet Office in February 2025.
Innovative Space Carrier Inc.
Projects
Innovative Space Carrier Inc., aiming to commercialize innovative space transportation systems, and JAL Engineering Co., Ltd., responsible for aircraft maintenance within the JAL Group, signed a basic agreement for technical collaboration in 2023 and commenced a capital and business alliance in 2025.
This collaboration focuses on supporting the of the reusable rocket series “ASCA”, currently under development by Innovative Space Carrier Inc.
Leveraging its expertise and assets accumulated through decades of aircraft maintenance experience, JALEC aims to help bring reusable rocket operations to reality alongside its partner.
IWAYA INC.
Projects
In December 2024, JAL began a collaboration with IWAYA, a company working to commercialize near space tourism via high-altitude balloons.
Through this partnership, JAL has joined the “OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT,” Japan’s first co-creation initiative aimed at developing and popularizing commercial balloon-based stratospheric flight.
Together, JAL and IWAYA are collaborating in business and technology development, leveraging JAL’s extensive expertise and assets from its long-standing experience in aviation transport to help bring near space travel to life.
About the “OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT”Centered on IWAYA’s technology, which aims to make near space travel by balloon accessible to everyone, this project seeks to pioneer Japan’s space industry through co-creation with partners from a wide range of sectors, and to make space open to all through the “Democratization of Space”.
The “Democratization of Space” represents the core vision of the OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT. Beginning with safe, reliable, and affordable civilian space travel experiences that anyone can enjoy, the project aims to co-create new businesses, services, and initiatives with companies and organizations from various fields. Through these efforts, it seeks to transform space – once a realm accessible only to a select few – into a place where everyone can take part and play a role.
