Japanese Space Startup Taps US Engine Tech to Boost Launch Capabilities

Japanese space startup Sirius Technologies is turning to US-made rocket engines to overcome its limited access to space launches and bridge the gap with the country’s booming satellite production, as per Bloomberg.

The move highlights a growing international collaboration in the burgeoning commercial space industry.

Sirius Technologies’ US subsidiary has inked a deal to purchase 10 rocket engines from Ursa Major Technologies, a Colorado-based company founded by a former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineer. While the contract value remains undisclosed, the partnership is a significant step for the Japanese firm.

Established in Tokyo in 2022, Sirius Technologies aims to “make space accessible to everyone,” according to Chief Executive Officer Kei Shimada. The company is currently focused on developing a small, reusable rocket for low-earth orbit, but harbors ambitious long-term goals, including a vehicle capable of transporting people and cargo to space and enabling “point-to-point travel anywhere on Earth in under 90 minutes.”

Shimada told Bloomberg News that partnering with Ursa Major will accelerate their timeline by eliminating the need for a lengthy 5-7 year engine development process. This strategic decision will allow Japan to “frequently bring our own commercial and defense-related satellites and other payloads to space on our own terms, without having to rely on other launchers abroad.”

Under the current plan, rockets built in Japan will be shipped to Colorado for integration with Ursa Major’s Hadley engines. The companies are targeting an initial launch in October from Spaceport America, a commercial space launch complex in New Mexico. If successful, this project would mark the first time a Japanese-American company files for an experimental launch permit with the Federal Aviation Administration, with the application expected as early as mid-April.

The deal was facilitated by the US State Department’s approval of a technical assistance agreement in 2024, which allows the export of specific technical data from Ursa Major.

Beyond providing the engines, the Hadley engines will be utilized for launch and, critically, landing practice, according to Ben Nicholson, chief strategy officer for Ursa Major. The two companies have also agreed to collaborate on developing a medium-launch engine based on Ursa Major’s Arroway model, with the collaboration extending through 2028, signifying a long-term commitment to advancing space technology.