Japan's ispace bets on H3 rocket instead of SpaceX's Falcon 9 for moon landing

Aerospace & Defense IndustriesStartup pins hopes on domestic launcher for 2028 missionThe mission will be ispace's first to use a Japan-made launch vehicle. © KyodoYUIYA SHIBATA and AMI YAMADAJuly 30, 2026 02:50 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's ispace will use the country's H3 heavy-lift rocket for a 2028 lunar lander launch, the startup said Wednesday.Read NextAerospace & Defense IndustriesJapan's ispace postpones lunar lander launch from US by 3 yearsTech AsiaInside Taiwan's most ambitious space mission yetAerospace & Defense IndustriesJapan rocket for small satellites completes burn test ahead of launchAerospace & Defense IndustriesJapan to test launch reusable rocket in chase with SpaceXAerospace & Defense IndustriesChina satellite companies set sights on SpaceX, pushing to ramp up launchesLatest o