Advancing Japan’s Independent and Global Transportation Infrastructure in LEO through Development of high frequence return cargo system (ELS-RS)ElevationSpace Inc. (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; Co-Founder / CEO: Ryohei Kobayashi, hereinafter “ElevationSpace”) has been selected as the implementing organization for “Technology to develop high frequence return cargo system from LEO” under the Space Strategy Fund Program (2nd Phase).Following this selection, ElevationSpace will accelerate the development of a system to realize the “ELS-RS” service, which aims to retrieve experimental samples and manufacturing materials from manned facilities such as space stations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a timely and high-frequency manner.Overview of the Selected ProjectTechnology Development Theme: Technology to develop high frequence return cargo system from LEOImplementing Organization (Lead Organization): ElevationSpace Inc.Principal Investigator: Kazuhisa FujitaTechnology Development Project Name: System Development for a High-Frequence Cargo Return Service (ELS-RS) from LEO StationOverview of the Technology Development Project: (To be announced after contract conclusion / grant decision)Related Information: https://fund.jaxa.jp/techlist/theme2_14/Concept Visual of “ELS-RS” ServiceBackground and Objectives of the Technology Development ThemeFollowing the conclusion of the International Space Station (ISS) operations in 2030, the post-ISS era is expected to mark a transition of human spaceflight platforms in LEO from government-owned and -operated facilities to those owned and operated by private entities. As a result, enabling private companies to enter the LEO utilization service market, which is estimated to reach a value of approximately 3 trillion yen, has become an urgent priority.For private entities to participate in the space industry, conducting technology demonstrations and experiments in orbit is an essential step. However, experiments without return samples provide only limited data. Currently, transportation of experimental samples from the ISS to Earth is restricted to limited spacecrafts, with only three to four return opportunities per year. Furthermore, in Japan, recovery sites are limited to overseas locations, creating constraints on conducting timely domestic analysis and data evaluation. These limitations in downmass capability represent a significant barrier for both Japanese and international private companies seeking to engage in advanced demonstrations and experiments that require sample return.This technology development aims to establish a high-frequence payload return system in Japan to meet the growing and diversified needs for sample return and to enhance international competitiveness. Since April 2023, ElevationSpace has been engaged in a two-year co-creation activity with JAXA under the J-SPARC (JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation) program, focusing on the “High-Frequency Re-entry and Recovery Service from LEO Facilities.” Through this collaboration, ElevationSpace has been receiving technical support and expertise from JAXA in atmospheric re-entry and recovery technologies, leveraging this knowledge to advance its technical studies.By establishing a recovery infrastructure led by the private sector, we aim to enhance Japan’s autonomy in space development while building globally competitive space transportation services. This initiative will strongly support the entry of both domestic and international private companies into the LEO utilization market.Overview of the “ELS-RS” Service “ELS-RS” is a small, uncrewed recovery service designed to enable the world’s first high-frequence return of payloads from crewed space stations.ELS-RS Service FlowMore Informationhttps://elevation-space.com/en/els-rsRelated Press ReleaseElevationSpace, Axiom Space Sign Agreement to Assess High-Frequency Re-Entry and Recovery Serviceshttps://elevation-space.com/posts_en/news_20251031_eng Statement of Ryohei Kobayashi, Co-Founder & CEO of ElevationSpaceWe are deeply honored to have been selected as the implementing organization for the “Technology to develop high frequence return cargo system from LEO” under the Space Strategic Fund Program (2nd Phase).The recovery of materials from manned platforms in LEO is a fundamental technology that supports the utilization of the space environment and serves as an essential transportation infrastructure for the sustainable advancement of research, demonstration, and manufacturing in space.Until now, Japan has relied on overseas partners for payload recovery missions. Establishing Japan’s own independent return capability will be crucial for enhancing autonomy in space development and for maintaining and strengthening international competitiveness.Guided by our vision of “building an in-orbit transportation network to connect cargo, crew, and all orbital operations,” ElevationSpace will, through this development, take on the challenge of establishing a commercial, high-frequence return infrastructure, aiming to realize a Japan-origin space logistics system capable of delivering payloads from orbit to destinations around the world.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