Collaboration for Space Travel Innovation: Insight into Interstellar Technologies
In a significant move for the space industry, Interstellar Technologies (IST) is set to launch small satellites from its primary planned launch facility at the Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO) in Taiki, Hokkaido, Japan. The company's rocket launch pad is currently under construction, with completion expected in the fall of 2026 [1][3][4][5].
Located in a town that has been working to develop itself as an outer space town, IST's headquarters in Taiki, Hokkaido, has been a hub for space exploration and innovation since it was selected as a candidate for an aerospace industry base.
IST, a company that develops and launches rockets and satellites, has been a key player in the space industry. Their rocket development involves repeated testing until components like propellant tanks break, helping to determine the limits of each core technology. This approach, which may be similar to the GR car development, often results in the phrase "thank you for breaking it" being heard [6].
The phrase "we still have so much to do" conveys a message of fulfillment in IST's rocket development.
In January 2025, IST teamed up with Toyota and Woven by Toyota, as previously announced. This collaboration has seen Toyota Group personnel supporting IST's rocket development. In August 202XX, Toyota and Woven by Toyota announced that IST would join as one of the Inventors in the demonstration trials in Woven City [2].
The Hokkaido Spaceport itself is a significant development. It boasts multiple launch complexes, including Launch Complex 0 (LC0), where IST currently conducts engine firing tests and suborbital launches of its MOMO rockets, and Launch Complex 1 (LC1), which is under construction for small orbital rocket launches, with two pads (LP11 and LP12) [1][5]. The future site for frequent orbital vehicle launches, serving commercial and government users, is Launch Complex 2 (LC2) [1][5].
Once the rocket launch pad is ready, IST plans to begin launching small satellites into space from the Hokkaido Spaceport, marking a new era for space exploration and innovation in Japan.
[1] https://www.hokkaidospaceport.jp/en/ [2] https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/33211513.html [3] https://www.j-cast.com/articles/2021/07/26/10807840.html [4] https://www.j-cast.com/articles/2022/04/29/11279144.html [5] https://www.hokkaidospaceport.jp/en/facilities/ [6] https://www.j-cast.com/articles/2021/07/26/10807840.html
IST's headquarters in Taiki, Hokkaido, not only serves as a hub for space exploration and innovation but also delves into the realms of technology and space-and-astronomy, considering its focus on developing advanced rocket and satellite systems. With the upcoming launch of small satellites from the Hokkaido Spaceport, IST is poised to contribute significantly to the scientific field, furthering our understanding of outer space.
