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Interstellar Technologies, Inc. (Japanese: インターステラテクノロジズ（株）, Hepburn: Intāsutera Tekunorojizu (kabu)), or IST, is a Japanese private spaceflight company aiming to eventually build a launch vehicle for smallsats under 100 kg. It is a rocket spacelaunch company developing the MOMO [ja]^{[clarification needed]} (also Momo, etc.) suborbital rocket and the ZERO [ja; fr] orbital launch vehicle. Interstellar's stated goal is to reduce the cost of access to space.^[1]

In 2017, it became the first Japanese company to launch a privately-developed space rocket, though the launch was unsuccessful. A subsequent test in 2019 was successful at taking a 20 kg payload on a suborbital trajectory to the edge of space. As of 2017^[update], the company planned to develop a rocket by 2020 that would be capable of launching small satellites into orbit.^[2] As of 2018, the president is Takahiro Inagawa.^[3]

As of June 2018, the company had raised about ¥30 million (about US$250,000) in crowdfunding.^[4]

The group that became Interstellar Technologies was created as a hobbyist organization in 1997.^[5] Interstellar Technologies predecessor company was established in 2003 by Takafumi Horie, who previously founded the ISP Livedoor. It was established to develop rockets to launch small satellites. It became Interstellar Technologies in 2005 (some sources name the year 2013 as the founding year of Interstellar Technologies^[6]). Interstellar plans to lower the cost of access to space,^[1][3][7] and is attempting to have the first privately developed rocket in Japan to reach space.^[4]

In March 2018, Interstellar entered into a business alliance with Nippon Travel Agency and Space Development Corp.^[8] In May 2018, Interstellar received an investment of ¥19.8 million from Kushiro Manufacturing.^[8]

The launch site of IST resides next to the Taiki Aerospace Research Field, an aerodrome of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, located within the Taiki Multi-Purpose Aerospace Park in Taiki, Hokkaido, Japan.^[30][3]

Launch Complex-0 (LC-0) is the launch site for MOMO and the static engine test facility for MOMO and ZERO.^[30]

Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) is a new launch pad for ZERO and is planned to be available in FY2023.^[30][31] LC-1 will include a Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and development and test facilities.^[30] LC-1 will be equipped with an exhaust duct to reduce noise from the engine jet and minimize damage to the satellite from vibration.^[30]

Launch Complex-2 (LC-2) is another launch pad designed for more frequent launches of ZERO and is planned to be available in FY2025.^[31] LC-2 will include a Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) capable of preparing multiple launch vehicles simultaneously.^[30]

In April 2021, a plan to expand the park into a private sector spaceport, Hokkaido Spaceport [ja], was announced.^[31] The current 1000-meter runway is planned to be extended to 1300 meters, and building a new 3000-meter runway is also considered.^[31][32]

• Blue Origin
• PD AeroSpace, Japanese spaceplane developer
• Rocket Lab
• SpaceX