Firefly Aerospace, the first private company to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon, has signed an MOU with SPACE COTAN, the operator of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO) to study the feasibility of launching Firefly’s Alpha rocket from Japan.
“I’m very pleased we have signed an MOU to study the feasibility of launching Firefly’s orbital rocket from HOSPO where we aim to launch a variety of rockets frequently,” said Yoshinori Odagiri, President and CEO of SPACE COTAN. “By taking advantage of the ideal location of Taiki Town in Hokkaido, we will support various launch service providers and contribute to the revitalization of the space industry in the region.”
With the MOU now in place, SPACE COTAN will begin defining the launch site operation concept, evaluating system requirements, and assessing licensing and regulatory requirements to launch Firefly’s Alpha rocket from HOSPO.
Located in Taiki, Japan, HOSPO is a commercial spaceport open to the private sector in Asia that offers many geographical advantages, such as an expansive sea to the east and south and a large landmass that allows for rapid expansion of the launch site. The suborbital launch site, Launch Complex 0, is already in operation at HOSPO, and developments are now underway on a new orbital launch site, Launch Complex 1.
“Firefly will continue to expand our responsive launch capabilities to meet the growing demand of the satellite market across the globe,” said Adam Oakes, Vice President of Launch at Firefly Aerospace. “We look forward to exploring the opportunity to launch our Alpha rocket from Japan, which would allow us to serve the larger satellite industry in Asia and add resiliency for U.S. allies with a proven orbital launch vehicle.”
Firefly’s small-lift rocket, Alpha, is equipped to launch more than 1,000 kg to LEO and can be launched domestically or internationally through Firefly’s existing launch facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and new launch capabilities coming soon at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and Esrange Space Center in Sweden.
Analysts say this venture offers compelling opportunities by tapping into Asia’s burgeoning satellite ecosystem while enhancing launch resiliency for US firms through diversified sites beyond Vandenberg and Wallops, potentially mitigating geopolitical risks and supply chain disruptions. With Hokkaido’s strategic geography enabling frequent, cost-effective operations and Firefly’s proven 1,000+ kg payload capacity to low Earth orbit, this initiative not only promises to revitalize regional economies but also positions early backers to capitalize on the accelerating commercialization of space, where international partnerships are increasingly driving innovation and returns.
