The Japanese space start-up ispace has launched a new “Blueprint Moon” data analysis service on top of its plans for private lunar landings after raising USD 28 million in new investments. This newly launched concept will help in collecting lunar data after applying it to tools and applications. Thus providing the information to other companies, research organizations, space agencies, and others to help in “mission planning and lunar surface development.”
During a news conference, the Tokyo-based start-up ispace announced the successful “Series B” funding round and the launch of its ‘Blueprint Moon’ business line. Established as a part of Google’s Lunar X Prize competition, ispace has planned to launch its first lunar lander mission in 2022.
Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace, said, “This new investment and launch of our new lunar data offering concept will not only support the steady development of ispace’s business but will also prove that ispace can lead globally in the development of the lunar economy, expanding humanity’s presence into space and creating a more sustainable world.”
This new enterprise idea was launched in anticipation of elevated exercise and everlasting human presence on the Moon within the coming years, which ispace believes might generate financial exercise, read the official statement.
A TechCrunch report states, commercialization of space has NASA and other government and private firms working extensively.
ispace’s total amount of funding equals to USD 125 million after this recent series B round, according to the company. However, Hakamada refused to “supply estimates for lunar lander prices or launch service charges.”
Some significant part of the investment will be put in the first lander, called Hakuto-R, mentioned Hakamada, thus allowing ispace to broaden the possibilities of the lander for its third mission and beyond.
The start-up also announced, in addition to closing the investment round, the launch of its new data analysis company, Blueprint Moon. The project would study publicly accessible lunar data obtained by the US, Japan, Europe, and India space agencies, among others, to help with the commercial objectives of customers, including landed missions and resource utilization.
