Japanese space startup Sirius to buy US rocket engines

Sirius Technologies, a Japanese space startup, has partnered with Ursa Major Technologies, a United States-based company, to acquire 10 rocket engines for its reusable launch vehicles.

The engines, called Hadley, will aid Sirius in developing rockets for low-Earth orbit missions.

Founded in 2022 and based in Tokyo, Sirius aims to decrease Japan’s dependence on foreign launchers for commercial and defense-related satellite deployments.

Initial launches are set for October at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Japan’s strategic pivot from late space entry to targeted international partnerships

Japan’s space program started significantly later than the US and Soviet Union, with its first satellite launched in 1970, decades after other space powers 1.

This history provides context for why Innovative Space Carrier is now pursuing international partnerships rather than developing indigenous rocket engines that would take “five to seven years” to create.

Japan’s approach has evolved from its early “Baby Age” of small rocket development in the 1960s to today’s commercial partnerships, reflecting a mature understanding of where to build versus buy capabilities 2.

The country has strategically focused on becoming a leader in specific areas like asteroid exploration through missions like Hayabusa, while partnering internationally in other domains to accelerate development 1.

This partnership with Ursa Major represents Japan’s pragmatic approach to quickly closing its launch capability gap while leveraging its existing strengths in satellite production.

2️⃣ Small satellite launch vehicles represent a strategic entry point in the booming space economy

Innovative Space Carrier’s focus on small, reusable launch vehicles aligns with broader industry trends, as small satellites represented 96% of all spacecraft launched in 2022 3.

The global space launch services market is projected to grow from approximately $10.34 billion in 2024 to between $11.9-$22.18 billion by 2025-2029, creating substantial opportunities for new entrants 4.

This market growth is being driven by increased satellite deployment, telecommunications expansion, and the rise of the commercial space industry across multiple sectors 3.