Kurita and ispace Forge Strategic Partnership for Lunar Water Resource Development

Strategic Partnership for Lunar Water Resource Development

In a groundbreaking move for space exploration, Kurita Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo) has announced a strategic partnership with ispace, a pioneering Japanese startup focused on lunar resource development. This collaboration aims to jointly develop strategies and plans for water resource development on the lunar surface, cemented by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two companies.

Water is essential for sustained human activity beyond Earth, particularly on celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. Recent studies suggest that water is likely contained within the regolith found on the Moon’s surface, leading to active discussions on constructing facilities that can extract and utilize this water for future manned space activities. Kurita has also been recognized for its contributions to lunar water processing, being selected consecutively by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for its innovative proposals regarding the development of water purification and electrolysis processes on the Moon.

As part of its mission, Kurita has embraced the vision of a sustainable economic ecosystem between the Earth and the Moon, known as the Moon Valley 2040 concept. This vision aligns with support for ispace’s commercial lunar exploration program, HAKUTO-R. In March of this year, Kurita signed an agreement regarding the transportation of its water treatment demonstration equipment to the lunar surface and further invested approximately 2 billion yen in ispace through a third-party allotment of new shares in October.

The partnership is designed to fortify the relationship between Kurita and ispace as they work on developing a sustainable water infrastructure on the Moon. The primary objectives of their partnership include:

1. Development of Business Models for Water Resource Infrastructure: Kurita and ispace will collaboratively develop strategies and business models to secure and supply water resources on the lunar surface. This initiative will focus on identifying necessary equipment and establishing cooperation with relevant enterprises and research institutions.

2. Evaluation of Technology and Payload Development: Kurita will push forward with the development of technology aligned with potential lunar water utility themes. Meanwhile, ispace will evaluate the feasibility and commercial viability of these technological demonstrations and provide cooperation in development efforts.

3. Joint Planning of Lunar Demonstration Missions: Both companies will plan joint demonstrations of technology on the lunar surface utilizing ispace’s lunar landers. This will include payload transport services and lunar data acquisition services to assist Kurita’s technological demonstrations.

Through this collaboration, the Kurita Group aims to work alongside ispace and other public and private entities involved in space development. Their focus on water extraction and purification technologies, as well as the construction of sustainable water infrastructure in space, highlights their commitment to creating new value in the space sector and expanding the frontiers of human activity. Additionally, the insights gained from their research and development in the space sector will be applied to tackle social and industrial challenges on Earth, thereby contributing to a sustainable society.

Conclusion

This partnership marks a significant step in advancing lunar exploration and the potential utilization of lunar resources. By fostering strong collaboration, Kurita and ispace are positioning themselves at the forefront of sustainable extraterrestrial infrastructure development. The future of human activity on the Moon is not merely a dream; it is becoming an attainable reality.

Notes:

1. *Regolith refers to the layer of loose, fragmented material covering solid bedrock on celestial bodies, such as the lunar surface, which may contain ice and water.
2. For more on the HAKUTO-R program, refer to Kurita's November 2024 news release regarding its corporate partnership.
3. The March 2025 news release details the agreement on payload transportation for a lunar water processing demonstration test with ispace.
4. For information on investments in ispace, see the October 2025 news release regarding third-party share allocations.
5. Payload refers to cargo or equipment carried by spacecraft, including scientific instruments and communication devices, among others.