Published 5/28/2025

Space Walker relocates flagship branch for next phase of spaceplane development

The move to Minamisoma City supports the startup’s future mass production of reusable composite launch vehicles, supporting Japan’s future competitiveness in the space industry.

Space

Edited by: Grace Nehls

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld and Products Finishing

On May 23, Space Walker Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) announced the relocation of its flagship branch and business from Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, to Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, with the purpose of further advancing its composites-intensive spaceplane development and preparing a future mass production system. The company notes that while the flagship branch was relocated, its head office remains in Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, where the Administrative Division continues to operate.

With the establishment of a development and production base, the company aims to anchor its space transportation technology and promote the regional industry, providing an optimized environment to develop, test and manufacture spaceplanes. Space Walker’s flagship branch specifically aims to advance social implementation of winged reusable launch vehicles while strengthening local industry infrastructure.

Minamisoma City offers infrastructure that supports R&D of robotics and advanced technology, which contributed to this decision. Space Walker says it is an area that is actively involved in fostering new industries, including space-related industries. Another critical factor for the new location is its sea access to the town of Taiki in Hokkaido, which Space Walker is considering as a launch pad. Under these circumstances, Space Walker will establish a development and production base in Minamisoma to promote space transportation technology and industrial infrastructure, as well as to contribute to the formation of a new industrial base deeply rooted in the region.

Space Walker’s RaiJin and FuJin launch missions.

Space Walker is developing a winged, reusable, suborbital spaceplane for launch in the 2030s. Currently, it is progressing the RaiJin Mission, a small suborbital satellite launch, in March 2028. In spaceplane development, key components such as methane engines, composite material tanks and systems technology play an important role. Space Walker aims to commercialize these component units to strengthen the Japanese space industry’s competitiveness. Head office relocation and development and production base establishment addresses these additional objectives:

Establishing individual factories for technical testing, development and manufacturing of spaceplanes and various components in collaboration with local enterprises in Minamisoma City, to compose a core base for production and development systems.
Expand employment of highly skilled technicians (engineers, manufacturing technicians, test operation staff, etc.) in the region, as well as throughout Japan and overseas.
Promote training of next-generation space engineers in cooperation with universities and research institutions in the region and beyond
Provide learning opportunities and events using the space industry, and collaborate with local manufacturing industries, among other options, to provide opportunities to enter the space industry from various perspectives, thus increasing regional recognition.

Currently, Minamisoma City is actively promoting the aerospace industry under the national project “Fukushima Innovation Coast Initiative,” and has established the Fukushima Robot Test Field (RTF) and the Space Industry Promotion Office. The relocation of Space Walker’s flagship branch to Minamisoma means that the company will follow in those same steps.

Space Walker is a startup certified by the Tokyo University of Science that conducts R&D of winged reusable rockets (spaceplanes) to provide a sustainable means of space transportation. The company is also engaged in the development, manufacturing and sales of next-generation composite material tanks that contribute to decarbonization.