Interstellar Technologies Signs Foundational Agreement with Taiki Town Becoming the Priority Launch Operator for Hokkaido Spaceport’s New Launch Complex

• Interstellar has signed a Foundational Agreement with Taiki Town, owner of Hokkaido Spaceport, to be the priority operator for the new Launch Complex 1.
• Interstellar will be building the necessary infrastructure for ZERO’s launch in this new launch complex.

Taiki (Japan), June 12, 2025 – Interstellar Technologies Inc. (“Interstellar”), a leading space infrastructure company, has signed a Foundational Agreement with Taiki Town Authority (“Taiki Town”), the owner of Hokkaido Spaceport. Under this agreement, Interstellar is designated as the priority launch operator for the new Launch Complex 1. The two parties will continue discussions toward finalizing a detailed operational contract.

Taiki Town’s Hokkaido Spaceport and ZERO’s launch site

Located in Taiki Town, where Interstellar established its headquarters in 2013, Hokkaido Spaceport is Japan’s first commercial spaceport. Interstellar has maintained since 2016 an usage contract with the town’s authority for Hokkaido Spaceport’s Launch Complex 0 (LC0), a launch and testing facility that has been the site of Interstellar’s suborbital vehicle MOMO’s three successful launches in 2019 and 2021.

In December 2024 Taiki Town issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify launch operators for the new Launch Complex 1 (LC1).*¹ Following the review of nine international and national applicants, this agreement was signed in support of Interstellar as the official priority operator recognizing the company’s continued progress on its ZERO orbital launch vehicle. 

Interstellar will continue the development of essential infrastructure at LC1, including propellant handling systems and launch pad facilities, with the goal of conducting ZERO’s first launch from the site shortly after construction is completed.

Remarks from Taiki Town’s and Interstellar’s Representatives

Regarding this agreement, Yutaka Kurokawa, Mayor of Taiki Town commented “Based on the RFI we conducted last year, we evaluated Interstellar Technologies as the most suitable launch operator and have now entered into this agreement. As a result, Interstellar, headquartered here in our town and a long-standing partner in our ongoing Space Town Development initiative, will be among the first to utilize LC1, the new commercial launch site we are developing.”

He added proudly, “It brings me great joy to envision a future where a truly Taiki-made rocket, developed and launched entirely within Taiki, will lift off from LC1. Our town will continue accelerating efforts centered around Hokkaido Spaceport, driving regional revitalization through space industry development.”

Takahiro Inagawa, CEO of Interstellar Technologies, also shared his thoughts “We are truly honored to be recognized as the top candidate for LC1 and to have signed this Foundational Agreement. Since launching our business in Taiki Town 12 years ago, Interstellar has built a strong track record, with seven launches of our suborbital vehicle MOMO and numerous other tests and operations counting up to eighteen launches.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the community “Our continued growth would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Taiki Town and its residents. As a leading private space transportation company in Japan, Interstellar is committed to enhancing the nation’s launch capabilities through ZERO’s orbital missions from LC1. We will also remain deeply engaged in supporting regional development by fostering a vibrant, space-oriented community around Hokkaido Spaceport.”

About Taiki Town and Hokkaido Spaceport

Taiki Town, located in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, has been promoting aerospace industry development for nearly 40 years. Leveraging its favorable geography for space launch operations, with open ocean to the east and south and ample land for future expansions, it has become a strategic hub for Japan’s commercial space sector.

Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO) is Japan’s first commercial spaceport and is well-regarded for its ability to support a wide range of orbital inclinations. It also offers exceptional accessibility, located just under an hour’s drive from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport, which connects to Tokyo by frequent flights, making it one of the most easily accessible spaceports in the world.

*1 Request for Information (RFI) for the Operational Planning of Launch Complex 1 at Hokkaido Spaceport: https://hokkaidospaceport.com/en/news/1602Space