ElevationSpace Inc. (Co-Founder & CEO: Ryohei Kobayashi, headquartered in Sendai, Japan) and Axiom Space (CEO & President: Dr. Jonathan W. Cirtain, United States) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaborative opportunities in high-frequency re-entry and recovery services for commercial space stations.This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to enhance the capabilities of orbital infrastructure, including the future Axiom Station. The collaboration will focus on technology demonstrations involving ElevationSpace’s ELS-RS payload handling and re-entry/recovery systems, which are designed to optimize operations in low-Earth orbit. The ELS-RS system once complete, will provide capabilities to store scientific data/payloads under controlled conditions and return them quickly and safely to an exact, specified location on the planet. This will enable Axiom Space to deliver important research to our customers and partners with increased speed and flexibility.Background and purpose of the agreementThe MOU outlines a framework for information exchange and cooperation, with both companies committed to contributing their expertise and resources to achieve shared goals. As part of this collaboration, ElevationSpace will also explore opportunities with Axiom Space to enhance its visibility in the global space market.From left: Kazunari Miyamaru, Chief Operating Officer at ElevationSpace; Koichi Wakata, Axiom Space Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer;Comment from Kazunari Miyamaru, Chief Operating Officer at ElevationSpace“Working with Axiom Space presents a valuable opportunity to showcase our technologies in an operational environment. Together, we can drive advancements that will benefit the entire aerospace industry.”Comment from Koichi Wakata, Axiom Space Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer“This MOU is important as we aim to provide Axiom Station customers with cargo return services that allow payloads such as life and material science samples to return to Earth in controlled conditions and in a timely manner for quick recovery.” About Axiom Space: Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere. More information: https://www.axiomspace.com/ About ElevationSpace:ElevationSpace is a space startup with the vision of "Building an in-orbit transportation network to connect cargo, crew, and all orbital operations." In collaboration with Tohoku University and JAXA, ElevationSpace is leveraging Japan's world-class re-entry technology to develop a space transportation service that facilitates the return of goods from space to Earth. The company is focused on creating small spacecraft capable of transporting items that have been experimented on, developed, and manufactured in the microgravity environment back to Earth. More information: https://elevation-space.com/enThe International Space Station (ISS), which has been used for a wide range of purposes from basic scientific experiments to industrial applications, has been scheduled to cease operation at the end of 2030 due to structural lifespan and other factors, and securing a continuous "place" for utilizing the space environment has become an issue. With an eye on the "post-ISS era," ElevationSpace aims to provide a space environment utilization platform called "ELS-R” and “ELS-RS,” a high-frequency recovery capsule designed for return missions from space stations. "ELS-R" is the first service of its kind in Japan to use an unmanned small satellite to conduct experiments and demonstrations that take advantage of the zero-gravity environment, and then return it to Earth and to customers.Concept movie showing the image of the "ELS-R" service%3Ciframe%20width%3D%22560%22%20height%3D%22315%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F_2m_GXSDvdI%3Fsi%3Dxgts_ryJnp4D06sd%22%20title%3D%22YouTube%20video%20player%22%20frameborder%3D%220%22%20allow%3D%22accelerometer%3B%20autoplay%3B%20clipboard-write%3B%20encrypted-media%3B%20gyroscope%3B%20picture-in-picture%3B%20web-share%22%20referrerpolicy%3D%22strict-origin-when-cross-origin%22%20allowfullscreen%3D%22%22%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3E