Our official Payload User’s Guide for ZERO is now available on our website🚀Discover details on vehicle performance, payload accommodation, flight environments, available services, and payload processing.You can find the Payload User’s Guide here:
🚀News: Hajime Kumabe, CEO of Woven by Toyota, Joins Interstellar Technologies as a Board MemberWe are pleased to announce that Mr. Hajime Kumabe, CEO and Representative Director of Woven by Toyota Inc., has been appointed as an external (non-executive) director.
#InsideZERO 🚀 A Rapid Turbopump Development Process, Completed Entirely In-house—from Design to Assembly, Testing, and FacilitiesToday, we’re diving into the development journey of the turbopump—a critical component of a rocket engine.
Often referred to as the "heart" of the engine, the turbopump delivers fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber, making it one of the most essential and challenging parts of rocket engineering.
Interstellar has achieved a major milestone by successfully developing this component entirely in-house, completing the subscale model in 2024. We are now the first venture organization, apart from Japan’s government-operated rocket enterprises, to possess turbopump technology.
Located just 8km from its headquarters in Hokkaido, Our launch and testing site features new facilities dedicated to turbopump testing. This strategic proximity allowed the team to transition from subscale testing to flight development model testing in just two and a half months.
Interstellar’s unique strength lies in its end-to-end development approach. From design to assembly, testing, and even facilities, everything is handled in-house.
Daily collaboration between design teams and assembly/testing personnel ensures rapid feedback, resulting in designs that are optimized for both performance and practicality. This efficient and flexible development process is a key driver of ZERO's competitive edge.
Interstellar Technologies receives additional ¥ 1.4 billion (＄9.3 million*1) for the SBIR governmental program to boost space technologies in JapanTotal grant amount brought up to ¥ 8 billion (＄53.3 million)Hokkaido (Japan), February 21, 2025 – Interstellar Technologies Inc. (“Interstellar” or “the company” henceforth), a leading space infrastructure company, announced today the securement of ¥ 1.4 billion in additional funding under the Small Business Innovation Research (henceforth “SBIR”) program granted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.The SBIR is a 3 phased governmental program aimed to promote the implementation of advanced technologies developed by startups in Japan. Interstellar was selected in September 2023 under the space section focused on the “Development and Demonstration of Private Launch Vehicles” were the company received up to ¥2 billion in funding for Phase 1. After passing the review for Phase 2 in September 2024, another maximum of ¥4.6 billion were awarded. The current additional funding was approved by a Review Committee of experts to accelerate the project and ensure the achievement of the program’s goals*2. Including the funds of the previous phases the total amount has reached a maximum of ¥ 8 billion.
#InsideZERO🚀The Story Behind ZERO’s NameWe wanted something memorable and cool-sounding, but also rich in meaning. As a vehicle designed to launch satellites into orbit, its name reflects the elliptical path satellites take around Earth—forming the shape of a zero (0).#rocket
Beyond that, ZERO represents a starting point. Since we’re building this rocket from the ground up, its name embodies the idea of beginning from scratch and pushing boundaries from step one. Stay tuned for more insights into the journey behind ZERO! 🚀
#InsideZERO🚀 A view inside the box that protects ZERO’s brain.This is ZERO’s Avionics Box, manufactured in-house by Interstellar to house the rocket’s the “brain” or the avionics that, powered by sophisticated software, guide the rocket throughout its flight.#avionics #rocket
Though it looks like just a metal box, it is engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of launch. A rocket’s intelligence is distributed across multiple components. In ZERO’s case, dozens of Avionics Boxes work together to ensure precise navigation and control.#space
🚀News: Interstellar Technologies Selected for JAXA's High Accuracy Satellite Formation Flight Technology ThemeThis program aims to enhance Japan’s international competitiveness by developing innovative formation flight technology of a large number of femto-satellites in space.
Interstellar becomes the preferred operator of a new rocket launch site in Taiki, HokkaidoJune 12, 2025 19:42An image of the rocket "ZERO" to be launched from LC1 (provided by Interstellar Technologies)Rocket developer Interstellar Technologies (IST, Taiki, Hokkaido) reached a basic agreement on the 12th with Taiki, Hokkaido, to give priority to the use of a new launch site at Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO, Taiki, Hokkaido), a commercial spaceport.The town is currently building a new launch site, "LC1," to launch artificial satellites, with completion expected in September 2026. The town has been soliciting launch operators for the new launch site since December 2024.IST, which has become the preferred operator, is developing the rocket "ZERO" to carry small artificial satellites, and aims to launch it on LC1. Construction of a plant to store liquefied biomethane, which will serve as fuel, will begin in July.
Horiemon recently responded to the Honda vtol test stating that they have no intention of building a reusable rocket, primarily due to them focusing on smaller payloads and hence, building smaller launch vehicles where reuse is not beneficial. does anyone have a good sense of where that crossover point is? zero is supposed to deliver 1000kg to LEO. electron only does 250kg to LEO and they are now pursuing reuse after Peter Beck changed his mind on the same question .
Interstellar gets $62 million additional funding and pushes Zero's inaugural launch from 2025 to 2027.https://spacenews.com/japans-interstellar-secures-62-million-in-series-f-funding/
Quote from: PM3 on 07/10/2025 09:07 amInterstellar gets $62 million additional funding and pushes Zero's inaugural launch from 2025 to 2027.https://spacenews.com/japans-interstellar-secures-62-million-in-series-f-funding/JFY2027 not CY2027
