Activity Report of the Space Strategy Fund Project (March 2026 Issue)

SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taiki-cho, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido; President & CEO: Yoshinori Odagiri), which operates "Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)," a commercial spaceport open to the private sector, was selected in January 2025 for the Space Strategy Fund's technology development theme "Ground-based Infrastructure Technology for Future Transportation: Development of Ground-based Infrastructure Technology to Realize High-Frequency Launches, etc." and is proceeding with research and development of launch site infrastructure technology aimed at high-frequency rocket launches.

We would like to inform you of our main activities as of March 2026, as follows:

① Quarterly Progress Report Meeting (Q3 FY2025)

Quarterly Progress Report Meeting

On March 3, the Q3 FY2025 progress report meeting was held at the Taiki-cho Economic Center (with online participation).

・ PO (Program Officer): Mr. Naohiko Jinbu

・ PO Assistants: Ms. Naoko Yamazaki, Mr. Yoshiki Ueda, Mr. Hiroshi Ogasawara, Mr. Yoshiaki Tsuda

・ Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) personnel

・ Researchers from the representative organization and collaborating organizations

This meeting aimed to focus on discussing the research status of each collaborating organization, considering that a Stage Gate (SG) is planned in approximately one year. First, SPACE COTAN, as the representative organization, reported on the overall HOSPO system's review status (operational flow review, overall system modeling), followed by detailed review statuses from each collaborating organization (subsystem design specifications, verification plans, etc.).

PO/PO Assistants and JAXA personnel asked questions and provided comments regarding the implementation plan, verification plan, and maximization of results until the SG, leading to active discussions on future approaches.

The next meeting is scheduled for around June this year.

② Workshop Held by Participating Organizations

Workshop

On March 2, the day before the quarterly report meeting, a workshop bringing together collaborating and cooperating organizations was held at the Taiki-cho Economic Center.

Through this activity, by further strengthening the collaboration among each organization, we aim not only to develop individual elemental technologies under the Space Strategy Fund but also to effectively integrate launch site-related technologies and knowledge to improve the overall functionality of the launch site.

This time, SPACE COTAN explained global policy trends surrounding launch sites and the considerations for an ideal shared launch site.

Furthermore, Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, a cooperating organization, gave a lecture on the evolution of launch site roles tied to the history of rocket development and the concept of safety that should be a common understanding in all technology development.

Inspection after the workshop

③ Lecture at GSA Spaceport Summit

SPACE COTAN participated in the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA) Spaceport Summit held in the United States on January 27.

Yoshinori Odagiri, CEO of SPACE COTAN, gave a presentation on the advantages of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO) as a spaceport and its development plan.

The GSA Spaceport Summit is an international conference attended by representatives from spaceports and space agencies worldwide.

SPACE COTAN will continue to contribute to the development of the space industry through international collaboration.

Odagiri giving a lecture at the GSA Spaceport Summit

④ SPACE COTAN Engages in Technical Exchange with JAXA, Visits Tanegashima Space Center and Uchinoura Space Center

Members of SPACE COTAN visited JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center (January 13-15) and Uchinoura Space Center (March 10) in Kagoshima Prefecture.

As technical support from JAXA for the Space Strategy Fund's first theme, "Ground-based Infrastructure Technology for Future Transportation," in addition to inspecting related facilities and equipment, JAXA engineers provided advice on challenges related to each technology development item.

We will maximize the information gained and continue to promote technology development in close cooperation with JAXA.

What is Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO)?

HOSPO is a commercial spaceport open to the private sector, which began full-scale operation in Taiki-cho in April 2021. Taiki-cho has a geographical advantage as a suitable location for a spaceport, with the sea extending to the east and south for rocket launches and high expandability of the launch site due to its vast land. For 40 years, it has been promoting the attraction of aerospace industries. With the vision of creating a "Space Silicon Valley" in Hokkaido, an agglomeration of space-related industries, it is working on regional revitalization centered on the spaceport.

Utilizing the corporate version of hometown tax donations, we are proceeding with the development of Launch Complex 1 (LC1), a launch site capable of launching artificial satellites. Recognized for its regional initiatives, Taiki-cho received the Cabinet Office Minister's Award in FY2022. Furthermore, in February 2026, Taiki-cho and SPACE COTAN received the Cabinet Office Minister (Space Policy) Award at the 7th Space Development and Utilization Awards for their efforts in space-town development centered on HOSPO.

After the development of LC1, we will proceed with considerations for the development of Launch Complex 2 (LC2) for high-frequency launches, and in the future, we will also consider Launch Complex X (LCX) for large rockets and crewed rocket launches, and the construction of a new 3,000m runway for P2P (high-speed point-to-point transport) acceptance.

In October 2024, Taiki-cho and SPACE COTAN signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for international cooperation with 8 commercial spaceports across 5 continents. To meet the growing demand for launches, they began discussions with participating spaceports on ensuring interoperability through international standardization of launch sites and rationalization for reducing operational costs.

In January 2025, we were selected for the Space Strategy Fund and are proceeding with research and development of launch site infrastructure technology aimed at high-frequency rocket launches. Furthermore, in July 2025, "jtSPACE," a Japanese subsidiary of a Taiwanese company, conducted the first suborbital rocket launch by foreign capital in Japan at HOSPO.

Future image of Hokkaido Spaceport