Toyota Takes to the Skies: Automaker Invests in Orbital Rockets
In a bold move, Toyota Motor Corporation is venturing into the realm of orbital rockets, with a significant investment in Interstellar Technologies Inc., a Japanese private spaceflight company. This development marks a significant shift in the automaker’s focus, as it seeks to expand its mobility solutions beyond the confines of Earth.
A New Frontier in Mobility
According to Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, the future of mobility should not be limited to a single company or planet. With this investment, Toyota aims to leverage its expertise in mass production to develop and produce orbital rockets, capable of deploying satellites into space.
Partnership with Interstellar Technologies
Interstellar Technologies, founded in 2013, has already achieved seven successful launches of its suborbital MOMO rockets, reaching space for the first time in 2019. The startup is now working on developing the larger ZERO and DECA line of rockets, designed to deliver spacecraft into orbit. Toyota’s investment of 7 billion Japanese yen ($44.4 million) will support Interstellar Technologies’ efforts to achieve this goal.
Competition in the Japanese Launch Market
Toyota’s entry into the orbital rocket market puts it in direct competition with Mitsubishi, whose subsidiary Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has developed and launched the H3 series of rockets for JAXA, Japan’s space agency. Mitsubishi’s H3 rocket, although delayed, aims to offer a competitive pricing strategy to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, which currently dominate the global launch market.
Woven City: A Prototype City of the Future
In addition to its investment in orbital rockets, Toyota also announced the completion of the first phase of Woven City, a 175-acre site at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. This prototype city, designed to test and develop emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, will serve as a proving ground for future innovations. Toyoda emphasized that Woven City’s mission is not to generate profits, but to provide a platform for experimentation and growth.
A New Era in Space Exploration
Toyota’s foray into orbital rockets marks a significant shift in the company’s focus, as it seeks to expand its mobility solutions beyond the confines of Earth. With this investment, Toyota is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of space exploration and development.
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