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Partnership between ispace and SpaceX foresees shared lunar transport, with 500 kilograms of capacity and a new commercial model for cargo on the Moon.
A new commercial route to the Moon begins to take shape.
The Japanese company ispace announced, on July 8, 2026, a partnership with SpaceX to create a shared transport service using the Starship.
The proposal works like a kind of “space Uber”. Different clients will be able to share space on the same trip to the lunar surface.
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According to Reuters, ispace purchased 500 kilograms of capacity on a Starship mission. The lunar landing is expected to occur starting in 2030.
The reported investment was US$ 50 million.
This new model aims to reduce barriers for companies and institutions that wish to send equipment to the Moon without hiring an exclusive mission.
Shared transport to the lunar surface
ispace presented the service as a lunar cargo integration operation.
In practice, clients from different countries will be able to place equipment on the same Starship mission.
The Japanese company will also develop its own vehicle to accommodate these cargos after arrival at the natural satellite.
This system will complement the lunar landing projects that ispace is already developing.
Among the main points of the agreement are:
- 500 kilograms of contracted capacity;
- US$ 50 million in investment;
- use of Starship in lunar mission;
- operation expected from 2030;
- shared transport for global client cargos.
The idea is to transform a large mission into a kind of “lunar bus”.
ispace expands its plans in lunar infrastructure
The partnership also strengthens ispace’s plans in the commercial lunar infrastructure market.
Currently, the company continues to work on the Ultra module, created to perform soft landings on the Moon.
The company’s goal is to make three lunar landings with the Ultra by 2030.
One of these missions is part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program by NASA.
The CEO of ispace, Takeshi Hakamada, stated that cooperation with SpaceX should accelerate the company’s growth in this market.
According to him, the partnership expands services aimed at the commercial exploration of the Moon.
SpaceX strengthens its role in commercial missions
Meanwhile, SpaceX expands its presence in the lunar transport sector.
The company is developing the Starship as a reusable system for missions to the Moon and, in the future, to Mars.
Stephanie Bednarek, vice president of commercial sales at SpaceX, stated that the service can facilitate the delivery of small payloads to the natural satellite.
According to the executive, integrating equipment into a single mission creates new opportunities for clients interested in lunar exploration.
The agreement is not exclusive.
NASA also plans to use the Starship in a future lunar mission of the Artemis program.
Other companies in the sector have already reserved space on future flights of the spacecraft.
New phase of commercial lunar exploration
With this advancement, the transportation of equipment to the Moon begins to take on new commercial formats.
Lunar missions required their own projects, high costs, and highly exclusive operations.
Now, sharing space can pave the way for broader participation from companies, research centers, and institutions.
The partnership between ispace and SpaceX signals a new stage in the space economy.
The Moon is increasingly seen as a destination for services, cargo, and commercial infrastructure.
The nominal source of the information is Reuters, based on the announcement made by ispace and statements from executives of ispace and SpaceX.
What do you think of this new trade route to the Moon: can it accelerate space exploration or is it still far from reality for most companies? Share your opinion!
