Space One logo

Space One

operating

Develops and launches the solid-fuel KAIROS small satellite launch vehicle from its private Spaceport Kii facility in southern Japan

About

Space One Co., Ltd. is a Japanese orbital launch service provider founded in 2018 as a joint venture between Canon Electronics, IHI Aerospace, Shimizu Corporation, and the Development Bank of Japan. The company develops the KAIROS solid-fuel launch vehicle, a four-stage rocket capable of delivering 250 kg to low Earth orbit or 150 kg to sun-synchronous orbit. Space One built and operates Spaceport Kii in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan's first privately constructed orbital launch facility. The company targets 20 launches per year by the late 2020s and is developing an Enhanced KAIROS variant with a methane-fueled upper stage. As of March 2026, all three KAIROS launch attempts have ended in flight termination.

Products & Services

Upgraded variant with methane engine upper stage, under development for Japan's Ministry of Defense
Solid-fuel small satellite launch vehicle, 18m tall, 23t mass, capable of delivering 250 kg to LEO or 150 kg to SSO at 500 km altitude
Japan's first privately constructed orbital launch facility in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, with azimuths open to the south and east

Locations

Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan

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Overview

Founded 2018
HQ Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Type Private Company

Leadership

Masakazu Toyoda
President & Representative Director
Nobuhiro Sekino
Vice President

Classification