December 2023
Interstellar Technologies Inc.

IST Succeeds in Static Fire Testfor Small Satellite Launch Vehicle ZEROFirst Private Company in the World to Use Liquid Biomethane Derived
from Cattle Manure as FuelHokkaido, Japan – Interstellar Technologies Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “IST”), a comprehensive
space infrastructure company committed to tackling global challenges through spacetransportation and utilization, has reached a new milestone with the completion of a static ﬁretest for its small satellite launch vehicle, ZERO, powered by Liquid Biomethane (LBM).
The test was held at Hokkaido Spaceport's (HOSPO) 'Launch Complex-0 (LC-0)' in Taiki, Hokkaido,
and showcased the potential of biomethane as a sustainable rocket fuel. This milestone follows thesuccess of the European Space Agency's (ESA) development of a rocket engine using LBM, andrepresents a world-ﬁrst for a private rocket company.（*1）

High-Eﬃciency, Low-Cost Combustion Chamber
The combustion chamber of ZERO, designed in-house, adopts the pintle injector utilized in SpaceX's(USA) engines. Although pintle injectors are generally known to have limited performance, researchand development eﬀorts with Tokyo University and JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership andCo-creation (J-SPARC) have led to design improvements that achieve high combustion performance.
As a result, the number of components has been reduced to one-tenth of conventional engines,
fundamentally lowering the manufacturing costs of a rocket engine, estimated to constitute halfof the overall expenses.
This series of static ﬁre tests will advance the development and manufacturing of a 130kN-classoperational model based on the knowledge gained from the design, manufacturing, and testingprocess of a 60kN-class subscale model.
Test Name: Static Fire Test of Combustion Chamber
Objective: Validation of main combustion chamber andnozzle skirt assembly performance and durability
Timeframe: Nov. 28, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024 (scheduled)
Location: Hokkaido Spaceport, "Launch Complex-0"
Combustion Duration: 10 seconds*1 Internally conducted research

Gas Generator Cycle and Regenerative Cooling System Debut in COSMOSZERO operates as a liquid-propellant rocket with LBM as its fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer.
This marks the inaugural adoption by IST of the gas generator cycle, which burns some of thepropellants in a gas generator to drive a turbopump at tens of thousands of rotations per minuteand deliver the fuel to the combustion chamber at high pressure. Additionally, the regenerative
cooling eﬀectively utilizes the fuel for cooling purposes within the combustion chamber walls.
Tests for the combustion chamber, turbopump, and gas generator have been conducted, withfuture plans to integrate them.
ZERO's engine has been named COSMOS primarily by the development team members, a title thatembodies the spirit of theengine's design. The namedraws inspiration from how
the spray pattern of theengine's pintle injector
resembles the petals of acosmos ﬂower, symbolizing
Taiki.

High Performance and Sustainable Rocket Fuel for
Environmentally-Conscious Launches
Liquid methane has emerged as a superior fuel choice for rocket launches due to its
comprehensive advantages in price, fuel performance, ease of handling, availability, andenvironmental impact, making it the preferred choice for rocket companies worldwide, including
SpaceX's Starship. Recognizing the need for high-purity methane free of impurities in rocket
propellants, IST has been deliberating on the procurement methods since selecting liquid methane
as the fuel in 2020.
Meanwhile, Air Water Group has been at the forefront of establishing a regional circular supply
chain, centered around the conversion of biogas derived from livestock manure in the Hokkaido
Tokachi area into LBM - a sustainable alternative to liquid natural gas (LNG). In October 2022, thesuccessful launch of the ﬁrst domestic LBM manufacturing facility in Tokachi area marked apivotal milestone in advancing fuel supply demonstrations to food processing plants, LNG trucks,and marine vessels.
The LBM used in the test is produced by separating and reﬁning methane, the primary componentof biogas, and subsequently liquefying it at approximately -160°C. It achieves the same highpurity (99% or higher) as conventional rocket fuels used in the past. IST, impressed by theperformance and procurement excellence of LBM, has decided to adopt Air Water's LBM as thefuel for the 'ZERO' rocket.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas next to carbon dioxide, poses a challenge in global warming due
to its emissions from cattle. Moreover, within the region, issues such as odor and water pollution
arising from livestock manure have become societal concerns. Through the use of LBM, IST and Air
Water Hokkaido aim to make the majority of rocket fuel sustainable, contributing concretely toclimate change mitigation. As a Hokkaido-based company surrounded by a thriving dairy industry,
IST actively contributes to local energy self-reliance and environmental solutions.

Competitive Pricing and DedicatedLaunch Capability
ZERO is a small satellite launch vehicle designedto target the growing market for small-sizedsatellites in recent years. Building on theknowledge gained from the successful launch of
the private suborbital launch vehicle 'MOMO,' theﬁrst of its kind in Japan's private sector, IST isprogressing toward the ﬁrst launch of ZERO.
ZERO's space transportation service
distinguishes itself with competitive pricing—atless than 800 million JPY per launch (in massproduction)—made possible through an
integrated development and manufacturingprocess. Another key strength is its ﬂexibility toprovide customized launches tailored to therising needs of satellite companies. For satellitecompanies in Japan, Asia, and Oceania, proximity
to the launch site ensures convenience, reducing
launch-related time and costs and enhancing
overall value.

ZERO's Capacity Boost: To establish
Asia-Oceania Market PresenceWith an eye on recent trends and the demandboth locally and globally, ZERO is enhancing its
capacity to launch satellites of up to 800
kilograms into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This
strategic contributes to the establishment of an
independent domestic space transportation
service. Simultaneously, it positions IST toestablish a ﬁrm presence in the Asia-Oceania andEuropean markets.

ZERO: Speciﬁcations
Height: 32m
Diameter: 2.3m
Total Weight: 71 ton
Propellant: Liquid Methane (Bio-Methane),Oxidizer: Liquid Oxygen
Number of Engines: 1st Stage: 9, 2nd Stage: 1
Payload Capacity: LEO 800kg / SSO 250kg*Future Maximum Capacity

Interstellar Technologies Inc.
IST, a dynamic Japanese start-up, envisions a future where space becomes accessible to all
through low-cost and convenient space transportation services. With the headquarters placed inTaiki, Hokkaido, IST's product development spans four locations: the Tokyo branch, Fukushimabranch, and a laboratory at the Muroran Institute of Technology.
IST has achieved three successful spaceﬂights with suborbital launch vehicle MOMO, becoming
Japan's ﬁrst private company to reach space. Currently developing microsatellite launch vehicle
ZERO, IST also leads Our Stars, an artiﬁcial satellite development project, pioneering Japan's
vertically integrated rocket-satellite service.
Location: 149-7 Memu, Taiki, Hiroo-gun,
Hokkaido, Japan
Representative: Takahiro Inagawa, CEOBusiness: Space Transportation Services
https://www.istellartech.com/enInquiries about coverage of this issue
Satomi Takahashi / Nobumitsu Kobayashi, Public Relations, Interstellar Technologies Inc.
Mail: press@istellartech.com