Innospace Signs Launch Deal with Japan's Zarux... Secures 2028 Slot and Foothold in Japanese Market

Establishing a Three-Tier Partnership for Satellite Launch, Brokerage, and Agency
Laying the Groundwork for APAC Expansion

Innospace, a private space launch vehicle company, has secured a foothold for entry into the Japanese market by signing a satellite launch service agreement with Zarux (JALUX), Japan's leading aerospace trading company.

Zarux is a member of the Japan Airlines (JAL) Group and is a global general trading company that operates across the entire value chain of the aviation industry, including the distribution of aircraft parts, engine maintenance (MRO), and airport operations.

Innospace - Zarucks Launch Service Contract Signed. (Left) Innospace CEO Sujong Kim, (Right) Zarucks CEO Toshiaki Kasai. Provided by Innospace

On April 22, Innospace announced that it had signed a Launch Service Agreement (LSA) with Zarux. The core of this contract is to mount a satellite on Innospace’s 'Hanbit' launch vehicle in 2028.

The two companies have outlined their cooperation around three pillars: a satellite launch service agreement to secure a launch slot in 2028, launch brokerage leveraging Zarux’s network in Japan, and the establishment of a continuous sales structure through an agency agreement. As a result, Innospace will be able to secure distribution channels and customer access points in Japan without establishing a local subsidiary.

It is particularly notable that Zarux has proactively secured Innospace’s 2028 launch slot. Leveraging over 60 years of expertise in the aerospace network, Zarux plans to directly source satellite customers and connect demand by selling the secured launch slots. The ability to secure satellite customers and link launch demand based in Japan is expected to pave the way for expanding services across the entire APAC region in the future.

The growth of Japan’s space market is also cited as a key factor behind this agreement. According to the market research firm MarkNtel, the Japanese launch service market is projected to grow from approximately 960 million dollars in 2024 to about 2.26 billion dollars in 2030, with an expected compound annual growth rate of over 15%. The Japanese government is also actively supporting the private space industry by establishing a 'Space Strategic Fund' of around 1 trillion yen over the next 10 years, centered on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Tosiaaki Kasai, CEO of Zarux, stated, “This partnership marks an important milestone as Zarux enters the space launch service sector for the first time, building on 60 years of experience in the aerospace business. By combining Innospace’s hybrid rocket technology with Zarux’s global network, we aim to bridge the gap between satellite demand and launch services.”

Kim Sujong, CEO of Innospace, said, “Our collaboration with Zarux demonstrates that our technological capabilities have achieved commercial competitiveness in the Japanese market. Starting with the launch service agreement, we will expand cooperation to include brokerage and agency partnerships, strengthening our position in the Japanese market and broadening business opportunities across APAC.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.