Japan's ispace and Kurita Water team up to mine Moon water for future colonies

Japanese lunar company ispace has teamed up with Kurita Water Industries to extract and treat water on the Moon. The partnership aims to develop technology for future lunar missions and support long-term habitation. Both firms see water as a key resource for building a sustainable cislunar economy. The two companies signed their second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to focus on lunar water extraction. They will work together on payload development and testing for missions that demonstrate water processing on the Moon. ispace’s landers will play a central role in these demonstration efforts.

In October 2022, ispace issued ¥2 billion ($12.9 million) in shares to Kurita Water Industries, strengthening their collaboration. The investment reflects a shared goal of creating a business model around lunar water resources. Japan has shown strong interest in lunar extraction, with ispace leading efforts to position the country as a key player in the emerging market.

Beyond this partnership, ispace has been expanding its reach. A recent mission with ElevationSpace aimed to return lunar rocks to Earth, further establishing the company’s role in space resource exploration. CEO Takeshi Hakamada has repeatedly stressed that water will be vital for developing a thriving economy between Earth and the Moon. The collaboration between ispace and Kurita Water Industries marks another step toward using lunar water for future missions. Their combined work on extraction technology and demonstration missions could shape how resources are gathered on the Moon. Japan’s push into this field highlights the growing competition to secure essential materials for long-term space exploration.