Rocket startup Interstellar receives another grant from Japan
The Rocket startup Interstellar announced on February 21, 2025 that Japan’s program to encourage commercial space has awarded it a new $9.3 million grant, bringing the total amount the company has received to approximately $53 million.
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 [$13.3 million] in funding for Phase 1. After passing the review for Phase 2 in September 2024, another maximum of ¥4.6 billion [$30.8 million] were awarded.
In addition, in early January Toyota invested $44 million in this startup.
This story indicates that the Japanese government is finally moving to encourage private commercial space. It had announced this grant program in late 2023, but its bureaucracy had initially seemed reluctant to issue grants. This appears to be finally changing.
Interstellar is in itself an interesting story. Five years ago it appeared to be aggressively building its Zero rocket. It then disappeared. I figured its investment capital had dried up and the company had shut down. It seems it has now been reborn.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The Rocket startup Interstellar announced on February 21, 2025 that Japan’s program to encourage commercial space has awarded it a new $9.3 million grant, bringing the total amount the company has received to approximately $53 million.
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 [$13.3 million] in funding for Phase 1. After passing the review for Phase 2 in September 2024, another maximum of ¥4.6 billion [$30.8 million] were awarded.
In addition, in early January Toyota invested $44 million in this startup.
This story indicates that the Japanese government is finally moving to encourage private commercial space. It had announced this grant program in late 2023, but its bureaucracy had initially seemed reluctant to issue grants. This appears to be finally changing.
Interstellar is in itself an interesting story. Five years ago it appeared to be aggressively building its Zero rocket. It then disappeared. I figured its investment capital had dried up and the company had shut down. It seems it has now been reborn.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Readers: the rules for commenting!
No registration is required. I welcome all opinions, even those that strongly criticize my commentary.
However, name-calling and obscenities will not be tolerated. First time offenders who are new to the site will be warned. Second time offenders or first time offenders who have been here awhile will be suspended for a week. After that, I will ban you. Period.
Note also that first time commenters as well as any comment with more than one link will be placed in moderation for my approval. Be patient, I will get to it.