Shiga, Japan, July 20, 2022 –Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd. announced today that it will take part in the HAKUTO-R commercial lunar exploration program operated by Tokyo-based ispace, inc. as a supporting company. Toray Carbon Magic has been utilizing the optimization design and weight reduction technologies that it cultivated in years of race car development to help develop a carbon fiber-reinforced airframe and parts for the program’s lunar lander, rover, and other equipment. By further supporting the HAKUTO-R program, Toray Carbon Magic is taking substantive steps to contribute to the future society.
Akiyoshi Oku, president of Toray Carbon Magic, commented that, “We have shared ispace’s vision to extend the human presence into outer space since we began exploring ways to collaborate. We look forward to helping the HAKUTO-R program succeed through our race-proven lightweight materials and integrated molding technologies.”
Takeshi Hakamada, the Founder, Representative Director & CEO of ispace, added that, “Toray Carbon Magic helped our earlier team develop a rover airframe when it competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. We are delighted that its support continues through this program.”
The HAKUTO-R program will encompass two lunar missions, both launched with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The first will be a soft lunar landing planned for 2022*. The second will be a lunar landing and rover deployment, scheduled for 2024*. The program will lay the groundwork for ispace’s vision of frequent transportation and data collection efforts on the Moon.
About Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd, （https://www.carbonmagic.com/en/）
Toray Carbon Magic dramatically improves parts and structural performances by leveraging composite design, aerodynamics, and processing technologies from many years of racing car development. It became part of the Toray Group in 2013. Toray is the world’s biggest manufacturer of carbon fiber composite materials. Toray Carbon Magic combines the technological prowess of both entities in engineering innovations that deliver new value by contributing to social progress.
About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com/)
ispace is a lunar exploration company with over 190 staff and offices in Japan, Europe, and the United States. It builds small commercial lunar landers and aims to provide a high-frequency, low-cost delivery service to the Moon. ispace also launched a lunar data business concept to help companies enter the lunar market. The lander for its first lunar mission is undergoing final assembly at the IABG GmbH Space Centre in Germany. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch the lander from the United States in 2022*.
* Current plan as of July 2022.
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