ispace Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com/tag/ispace/ Covering the business and politics of space Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:58:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png ispace Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com/tag/ispace/ 32 32 80681979 China’s iSpace launch firm raises record $729 million for reusable rockets https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-launch-firm-raises-record-729-million-for-reusable-rockets/ https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-launch-firm-raises-record-729-million-for-reusable-rockets/#respond Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:58:22 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=573518

Chinese launch firm iSpace has secured a record D++ funding round to accelerate its reusable rocket development efforts and expand its industrial footprint.

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Inside ispace Europe and the race to explore the moon https://spacenews.com/inside-ispace-europe-and-the-race-to-explore-the-moon/ https://spacenews.com/inside-ispace-europe-and-the-race-to-explore-the-moon/#respond Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:04:05 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=553449 Julien Lamamy

In this week's episode of Space Minds SpaceNews editor Mike Gruss talks with Julien Lamamy, Managing Director of ispace Europe from the World Space Business Week in Paris.

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Launch startup iSpace secures fresh funding as hot fire tests heat up China’s reusable rocket race https://spacenews.com/launch-startup-ispace-secures-fresh-funding-as-hot-fire-tests-heat-up-chinas-reusable-rocket-race/ https://spacenews.com/launch-startup-ispace-secures-fresh-funding-as-hot-fire-tests-heat-up-chinas-reusable-rocket-race/#respond Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:49:10 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=552441

Launch startup iSpace has raised significant series D+ funding as commercial competitors in China report progress with hot fire tests.

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Chinese launch startup unveils autonomous rocket recovery ship https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-startup-unveils-autonomous-rocket-recovery-ship/ https://spacenews.com/chinese-launch-startup-unveils-autonomous-rocket-recovery-ship/#respond Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:07:49 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=541739

Chinese launch startup iSpace has launched the nation’s first rocket recovery ship, marking a major step toward offshore reusable rocket operations.

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China’s iSpace returns to flight with successful orbital solid rocket launch  https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-returns-to-flight-with-successful-orbital-solid-rocket-launch/ https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-returns-to-flight-with-successful-orbital-solid-rocket-launch/#respond Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:24:04 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=536950 A Hyperbola-1 solid-fueled rocket developed by China's iSpace lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on July 29, 2025, trailing a large plume of brownish exhaust against a clear blue sky. The rocket ascends vertically as launch gantries and fencing are visible on the desert ground below.

Chinese launch startup iSpace successfully sent a satellite into orbit early Tuesday with a solid fueled rocket mission a year after its previous launch failed.

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The business case for the moon  https://spacenews.com/the-business-case-for-the-moon/ https://spacenews.com/the-business-case-for-the-moon/#respond Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:05:10 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=522382 Space Minds podcast - The business case for the moon

In this week’s episode of Space Minds we bring you a special panel discussion on the future of commercial lunar exploration which was recorded live during the build-up to a historic moon landing.

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Space is hard. There is no excuse for pretending it’s easy. https://spacenews.com/space-is-hard-there-is-no-excuse-for-pretending-its-easy/ https://spacenews.com/space-is-hard-there-is-no-excuse-for-pretending-its-easy/#respond Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519751 Starship ship

The headlines in the space industry over the past month have delivered a sobering reminder: space is not forgiving, and certainly not friendly to overpromising entrepreneurs. From iSpace’s second failed […]

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Laser rangefinder problems blamed for second ispace lunar lander crash https://spacenews.com/laser-rangefinder-problems-blamed-for-second-ispace-lunar-lander-crash/ https://spacenews.com/laser-rangefinder-problems-blamed-for-second-ispace-lunar-lander-crash/#respond Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:28:20 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519658 ispace Resilience lander

Japanese company ispace says it believes its second lunar lander mission crashed because of problems with a laser rangefinder used to determine altitude during its descent.

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After Resilience’s moon landing attempt, why openness is key to the lunar economy https://spacenews.com/after-resiliences-moon-landing-attempt-why-openness-is-key-to-the-lunar-economy/ https://spacenews.com/after-resiliences-moon-landing-attempt-why-openness-is-key-to-the-lunar-economy/#respond Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=519474 Resilience and Tenacious

Last week, I looked at the faces of our guests at our moon landing event and watched as awe, wonder and hopefulness transformed into disappointment. Moments before the expected touch […]

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Second ispace lunar lander presumed lost https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-lunar-lander-presumed-lost/ https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-lunar-lander-presumed-lost/#respond Fri, 06 Jun 2025 02:32:23 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=518906 Resilience and Tenacious

Resilience, the second mission by Japanese company ispace, likely crashed attempting a landing on the moon June 5.

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Second ispace mission ready for lunar landing attempt https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-mission-ready-for-lunar-landing-attempt/ https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-mission-ready-for-lunar-landing-attempt/#respond Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:34:36 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=518762 Resilience and Tenacious

Japanese company ispace is set to make its second attempt to land on the moon this week as the company looks ahead to larger, more ambitious lunar landers.

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Resilience lunar lander enters orbit around the moon https://spacenews.com/resilience-lunar-lander-enters-orbit-around-the-moon/ https://spacenews.com/resilience-lunar-lander-enters-orbit-around-the-moon/#respond Wed, 07 May 2025 11:32:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=517108 ispace Resilience lander

Japanese company ispace says its second lunar lander in now in orbit around the moon ahead of a landing attempt in early June.

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Redwire and ispace U.S. to collaborate on lunar missions https://spacenews.com/redwire-and-ispace-u-s-to-collaborate-on-lunar-missions/ https://spacenews.com/redwire-and-ispace-u-s-to-collaborate-on-lunar-missions/#respond Tue, 08 Apr 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=515922 ispace APEX 1.0 lander

Redwire and ispace U.S. have agreed to collaborate on future lunar missions, seeking to tap into what the companies see as growing interest from companies and governments.

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China’s iSpace secures D round funding, targets December orbital launch and landing https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-secures-d-round-funding-targets-december-orbital-launch-and-landing/ https://spacenews.com/chinas-ispace-secures-d-round-funding-targets-december-orbital-launch-and-landing/#respond Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:51:15 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=514486

HELSINKI — Chinese commercial launch company iSpace has secured new funding as it prepares for a first launch of its Hyperbola-3 reusable rocket. The company, full name Beijing Interstellar Glory […]

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Blue Ghost 1 enters lunar orbit as Resilience flies by the moon https://spacenews.com/blue-ghost-1-enters-lunar-orbit-as-resilience-flies-by-the-moon/ https://spacenews.com/blue-ghost-1-enters-lunar-orbit-as-resilience-flies-by-the-moon/#respond Sat, 15 Feb 2025 14:18:39 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513125 Blue Ghost 1 in lunar orbit

One commercial lunar lander has entered orbit around the moon while another, launched at the same time, made a lunar flyby to set up a later return.

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Falcon 9 launches American and Japanese commercial lunar landers https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-american-and-japanese-commercial-lunar-landers/ https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-launches-american-and-japanese-commercial-lunar-landers/#respond Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:36 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=511486 F9 launch Firefly ispace

A Falcon 9 successfully launched Jan. 15 two landers built by American and Japanese companies taking different paths to the surface of the moon.

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China to debut new Long March and commercial rockets in 2025 https://spacenews.com/china-to-debut-new-long-march-and-commercial-rockets-in-2025/ https://spacenews.com/china-to-debut-new-long-march-and-commercial-rockets-in-2025/#respond Thu, 02 Jan 2025 13:40:26 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=510903 A Landspace Zhuque-3 prototype rocket stage, powered by a methane-liquid oxygen exhuast plume, in the skies above the desert at Jiuquan spaceport, Jan. 19, 2024.

New Long March rockets and commercially-developed launch vehicles are expected to have their first flights in 2025, boosting China’s overall launch capabilities.

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Firefly, ispace lunar landers to share Falcon 9 launch https://spacenews.com/firefly-ispace-lunar-landers-to-share-falcon-9-launch/ https://spacenews.com/firefly-ispace-lunar-landers-to-share-falcon-9-launch/#respond Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:11:51 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=510324 Blue Ghost 1

Japanese lunar lander developer ispace has confirmed that its second mission will launch on the same Falcon 9 as Firefly’s first lunar lander.

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Firefly sets January launch date for first lunar lander mission https://spacenews.com/firefly-sets-january-launch-date-for-first-lunar-lander-mission/ https://spacenews.com/firefly-sets-january-launch-date-for-first-lunar-lander-mission/#respond Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:04:49 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=509375 Blue Ghost 1

Firefly Aerospace says it is planning a launch of its first lunar lander mission in January, meaning that none of the three commercial lander missions once slated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year will do so.

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ESA and JAXA sign statement on expanding deep space cooperation https://spacenews.com/esa-and-jaxa-sign-statement-on-expanding-deep-space-cooperation/ https://spacenews.com/esa-and-jaxa-sign-statement-on-expanding-deep-space-cooperation/#respond Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:29:31 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=509254 BeciColombo at Mercury

BREMEN, Germany — The European and Japanese space agencies have issued a joint statement on furthering cooperation on planetary defense, the moon, Mars and beyond. JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa and […]

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Foust Forward | Is there a business case for the moon? https://spacenews.com/foust-forward-is-there-a-business-case-for-the-moon/ https://spacenews.com/foust-forward-is-there-a-business-case-for-the-moon/#respond Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=508912 Intuitive Machines is preparing IM-2, a Nova-C lunar lander dubbed Athena, for an early January mission to the moon’s south pole. Onboard the lander is NASA’s Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) experiment designed to search for water ice on the moon. Credit: Intuitive Machines

Enough commercial activity is heading to the moon in the next few months to create a traffic jam. Firefly Aerospace, ispace and Intuitive Machines are all launching commercial lunar lander […]

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Second ispace lunar lander planned for launch in December https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-lunar-lander-planned-for-launch-in-december/ https://spacenews.com/second-ispace-lunar-lander-planned-for-launch-in-december/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:11:40 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=505807 ispace Resilience lander

Japanese company ispace expects to launch its second lunar lander mission as soon as December, making it one of three companies planning missions to the moon by the end of the year.

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Chinese commercial rocket firm suffers 4th launch failure https://spacenews.com/chinese-commercial-rocket-firm-suffers-4th-launch-failure/ https://spacenews.com/chinese-commercial-rocket-firm-suffers-4th-launch-failure/#respond Thu, 11 Jul 2024 06:56:04 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=466258 Liftoff in July 2019 of the successful first Hyperbola-1 launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Chinese commercial rocket outfit iSpace suffered a launch failure late Wednesday in a fresh setback for the company.

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Lunar lander company ispace sees opportunities in Japan-U.S. Artemis agreement https://spacenews.com/lunar-lander-company-ispace-sees-opportunities-in-japan-u-s-artemis-agreement/ https://spacenews.com/lunar-lander-company-ispace-sees-opportunities-in-japan-u-s-artemis-agreement/#respond Sat, 11 May 2024 16:30:25 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=422458

An agreement between the United States and Japan on contributions for the Artemis lunar exploration campaign could create additional opportunities for a Japanese lunar lander developer.

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