ispace redesigns lunar lander, introduces lunar communications service
Japanese lunar‑exploration firm ispace announced a redesign of its lander architecture, a further postponement of its first U.S. mission, and the launch of a lunar communications satellite constellation. The changes were disclosed on March 27 and affect the company’s U.S. subsidiary, which now expects its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) flight, previously slated for 2027, to lift off in 2030. In parallel, ispace revealed plans for a five‑satellite “Lunar Connect Service” that will begin orbiting the Moon with a 2027 launch.
The redesign replaces the jointly developed VoidRunner engine with a flight‑proven powerplant from an undisclosed supplier, ending the partnership with Agile Space Industries on that component. All future landers will use a single “Ultra” configuration that merges the Japanese Series 3 chassis with technology from the American Apex 1.0 model, including the propellant tanks and the communications suite intended for relay satellites. Under the revised schedule, the U.S. flight—renamed Mission 5—will employ the Ultra lander in 2030, while two Japanese missions, now called Mission 3 (2028) and Mission 4 (2029), will also use the Ultra design and are funded by a Japanese government SBIR award and a Space Strategy Fund award respectively. The satellite segment will field five orbiters by 2030, delivering communications, navigation, surface imaging and space‑situational‑awareness services; the first orbiter, designated Mission 2.5, will ride an Argo Space orbital transfer vehicle in 2027, taking over one of the previously planned relay satellites, Alpine or Lupine. ispace will collaborate with Japanese telecom provider KDDI for ground‑segment support and continues discussions with NASA for approval of the revised lander and schedule.
The consolidation aligns ispace with other lunar‑communications initiatives such as Intuitive Machines’ five‑satellite network and Telespazio’s ESA‑backed Moonlight system, both of which aim for interoperability. ispace projects a $3 billion annual market for lunar services by 2040, citing NASA’s upcoming lunar‑base architecture as a growth driver. The redesign incurs undisclosed cost impacts and will trigger modest layoffs within the company’s 350‑plus workforce, while the unified design team reports to chief technology officer Ryo Ujiie. These adjustments reshape ispace’s role in the CLPS pipeline and position its Lunar Connect Service as a potential complement to emerging global lunar infrastructure.
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