Japan's ispace aims to be 'gateway' for lunar business activity

Toyota-backed startup offers new data service and raises $28m for 2022 landing

20200820 ispace lander

Japanese space startup ispace aims to put a lander on the Moon in 2022. (Courtesy of ispace)

MITSURU OBE, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japanese startup ispace has launched a data service aimed at helping companies pursue business opportunities on the moon, part of the lunar rover developer's aim to become a "gateway" for commercial space activities.

The Tokyo-based startup says it will collect lunar data, including images, environmental data, telemetry and resources information, and provide them to potential customers including government space agencies, universities and private companies for mission planning and lunar surface development.

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