ispace

Chinese rocket company suffers third consecutive launch failure
An orbital launch attempt by Chinese startup iSpace ended in failure early Friday, following two failures last year.

Japan’s ispace negotiating first commercial moon landing insurance
Japanese lunar lander developer ispace said April 21 it is negotiating the world’s first insurance coverage for a commercial mission to the moon’s surface.

Agile supplies thrusters for Astrobotic, ispace and Masten lunar landers
Agile Space Industries, a Durango, Colorado company focused on in-space chemical propulsion, is additively manufacturing thrusters for robotic lunar landers being built by Astrobotic Technology, ispace and Masten Space Systems.

Chinese space launch startups attract a frenzy of investment
A number of China’s emerging rocket companies have secured major funding rounds in recent weeks as competition to reach orbit intensifies.

Plus Ultra’s lunar comsats to hitch rides on ispace moon landers
Spanish-German startup Plus Ultra Space Outposts plans to deploy the bulk of its proposed lunar communications and navigation constellation with ispace, the Japanese lunar transportation venture selling accommodations on its moon-bound landers.

China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space
China’s main space contractor will target more than 40 orbital launches this year, including completion of the Tiangong space station, following 48 successful launches in 2021.

Chinese space firms present big ambitions at commercial space forum
Players in China’s emerging commercial space sector have outlined big plans for rockets, spaceplanes and more for the coming years at a space forum hosted in Wuhan, central China.

Chinese rocket firms make new moves toward launch
A number of Chinese launch firms have taken steps towards realizing plans in recent days with a series of agreements, engine tests and launch vehicle deliveries.

Airbus Ventures invests in Tokyo-based ispace
Airbus Ventures announced an investment Oct. 25 in ispace, the Toyko-based company preparing to send its first lander to the moon next year.

ispace unveils new larger lunar lander
The Tokyo-based ispace unveiled the design of the lander at the 36th Space Symposium Aug. 23. The lander, being developed by the company’s U.S. office in Denver, will fly as soon as 2024 on the company’s third mission to the moon.

Japanese lunar lander company ispace raises $46 million
Japanese lunar lander developer ispace raised $46 million in a new funding round Aug. 4 to support future missions to the moon.

Mystery surrounds Chinese private rocket launch attempt
Chinese private firm iSpace conducted a launch of a Hyperbola-1 solid rocket early Tuesday but status of the mission is currently unknown.

Chinese rocket companies are preparing for hop tests
A number of Chinese rocket firms are preparing to carry out first hop tests in a bid to develop reusable launch vehicles.

Companies and government agencies announce plans for lunar rover projects
The Japanese and Canadian space agencies announced plans May 26 to send small rovers to the moon in the next several years, as Lockheed Martin unveiled a partnership with automaker General Motors to propose a rover for NASA’s Artemis program.

Falling foam insulation caused Chinese commercial rocket failure
Chinese commercial launch company iSpace stated Monday that an errant piece of foam insulation caused the loss of its Hyperbola-1 rocket in February.

China’s iSpace suffers failure with second orbital launch attempt
Launch of a Hyperbola-1 rocket by Chinese private firm iSpace ended in failure shortly after liftoff from Jiuquan launch center Monday.

China’s iSpace advances with IPO plans, reusable launcher landing leg tests
Chinese private rocket firm iSpace is planning an IPO while also making progress on technology for a reusable launch vehicle.

Japanese lunar lander company ispace opens U.S. office
A Japanese company developing commercial lunar landers has opened an office in the United States in a bid to win more business from NASA’s Artemis program.

Chinese space launch firm iSpace raises $173 million in series B funding
Private Chinese launch firm iSpace has raised $172 million in series B funding for development of a new series of launch vehicles and reusable engines.

Japanese lunar lander company ispace raises $28 million
A Japanese company planning a series of lunar lander missions has raised $28 million that will allow it to complete development of its first mission.