Firefly Aerospace Eyes Rocket Launches from Japan’s Hokkaido Spaceport
US rocket maker Firefly Aerospace is exploring the possibility of launching its Alpha rocket from Japan as part of its global expansion strategy. The plan could make Japan the company’s first launch site in Asia and its second overseas base after Sweden.
Agreement with Hokkaido Spaceport
Firefly has signed a preliminary agreement with Space Cotan, the operator of Hokkaido Spaceport, to study the feasibility of Alpha launches from the site. Located about 820 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, the spaceport is positioning itself as a hub for international space activity.
According to Space Cotan spokesperson Ryota Ito, the study will examine regulatory requirements, necessary investments, and the timeline for building a launch pad. Firefly’s Vice President of Launch, Adam Oakes, said operating from Japan would help the company serve Asia’s satellite industry while strengthening launch options for US allies.
Regulatory Hurdles and International Agreements
To move forward, Japan and the US must finalise a technology safeguards agreement (TSA) allowing American rockets to launch from Japanese soil. Negotiations began last year but remain unresolved. A similar TSA signed with Sweden in June enabled Firefly to schedule Alpha launches from the Arctic.
Without such an agreement, Firefly’s plans in Japan cannot proceed. Still, both companies hope the ongoing feasibility study will align with progress on the TSA.
Firefly Aerospace: Challenges and Industry Competition
Firefly’s Alpha rocket has faced difficulties, with four of its six flights since 2021 ending in failure, including the most recent in April. Despite setbacks, the company is pushing to expand as demand for satellite launches grows.
Japan’s private space sector remains small, and most local satellite operators still rely on foreign providers such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Rocket Lab’s Electron. Past attempts to establish foreign launch operations in Japan have faced obstacles. Virgin Orbit planned to use Oita Airport but abandoned the project after declaring bankruptcy in 2023. Sierra Space still aims to land its spaceplane there after 2027.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s TiSpace attempted a suborbital launch from Hokkaido last month, but the mission failed within a minute. Japan’s government is targeting 30 domestic rocket launches annually by the early 2030s and is supporting companies such as Space One and Toyota-backed Interstellar Technologies to achieve this goal.
If Firefly succeeds in entering Japan, it would provide an additional launch option in Asia, diversifying the region’s access to space services.
with inputs from Reuters
