Japanese space startup ispace has announced a further delay to its U.S. government-supported lunar mission, pushing the launch timeline to 2030 as part of a broader strategic overhaul following two failed landing attempts.
The Tokyo-based company said the mission, commissioned under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, will be postponed by three years from its previous 2027 target. The delay comes as NASA reshapes its lunar exploration plans with commercial and international partners.
ispace said it will consolidate its moon lander development across operations in Japan and the United States while also reducing its global workforce. The company may incur additional costs and is considering further equity financing as part of the restructuring.
Since its stock market debut in Tokyo in 2023, ispace has struggled with দুইটি ব্যর্থ চন্দ্র অবতরণ প্রচেষ্টা, ongoing losses, and a declining share price. The firm had around 300 employees across Japan, the U.S., and Luxembourg as of last year.
In the interim, ispace plans to launch five lunar orbiters by 2030. These spacecraft are expected to provide telecommunications, navigation, and surface observation services to support future lunar development.
The company’s next major mission is scheduled for 2028, featuring its “Ultra” lunar lander, capable of carrying up to 200 kilograms of payload to the Moon.
Only two private U.S. firms—Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace—have successfully achieved lunar landings so far, underscoring the challenges faced by commercial space ventures.
Meanwhile, NASA recently updated its Artemis program, outlining plans for up to 30 uncrewed missions to the Moon in the coming years as part of a broader effort to return astronauts to the lunar surface.
The delay highlights growing uncertainty in the commercial space sector, particularly as policy changes under U.S. President Donald Trump reshape international cooperation in space exploration.
Despite setbacks, ispace says it aims to play a larger role in future lunar missions, positioning itself as one of the few non-U.S. companies developing Moon landing technology amid intensifying global competition.