Interstellar welcomes new expertise and expands rocket production capacity

Interstellar welcomes new expertise and expands rocket production capacity
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 07, 2024

Interstellar Technologies Inc. ("Interstellar"), a space infrastructure company focused on space transportation and utilization, has made significant strides both in talent acquisition and production expansion. With new secondees from seven organizations, including three Toyota affiliates, and the opening of a new production facility in Hokkaido, Interstellar continues to strengthen its efforts to develop low-cost, high-frequency rockets.

Integrating Cross-Industry Manufacturing Expertise
As of the 2024 fiscal year, Interstellar has brought on new secondees from Smart Implement Inc., Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd., and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc., with one engineer joining from each company.

This program, which began in 2020, now hosts 10 secondees from seven different companies. Among them are three from Toyota Motor Corporation, two from Toyota Motor Hokkaido, Inc., and one from Hagiwara Construction Industry, Nisso Corporation, Smart Implement Inc., Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd., and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc.

Interstellar's secondment program is designed to leverage Japan's manufacturing expertise, especially from the automotive industry, to develop cost-effective rockets that meet global market demands.

"We are proud to contribute our technical expertise in support of the Interstellar's mission," said Motoyuki Suzuki, CEO of Smart Implement Inc. He added that space exploration is on the horizon, and this collaboration could encourage more Japanese companies and engineers to enter the space sector.

The incoming engineers bring diverse skills, including engine development, manufacturing technology, assembly processes, and electronic equipment design. Tomoyasu Ookado of Toyota Auto Body explained, "We aim to contribute to the development of manufacturing systems that meet the rigorous quality standards required for rockets."

Expanding Production: New Facility in Hokkaido
In October 2024, Interstellar opened a new office in Obihiro, Hokkaido, to support the increased production of its orbital-class launch vehicle, ZERO. The Obihiro Branch is the company's third office, complementing facilities in Tokyo, Fukushima, and its main headquarters in Taiki, Hokkaido. This marks Interstellar's fifth overall facility, including its research site at the Muroran Institute of Technology.

The Obihiro Branch features a production hub on the first floor, where critical components such as engines and structural parts are assembled. This area includes a clean room specifically for assembling key parts like turbopumps and valves. The second floor accommodates office space for up to 50 employees, with around 20 propulsion and turbopump team members already working at the site.

"Collaboration among engineers with diverse backgrounds will foster mutual growth," said Kaori Watanabe, SBD Engineering Department Manager at Kozo Keikaku Engineering. The expansion in both talent and production infrastructure aligns with Interstellar's broader mission of making space accessible to everyone.