Japan is paying startups billions to de-risk the moon
The Japanese government is treating the lunar surface like a corporate laboratory, using a massive investment fund to transform moon landings from risky gambles into predictable business ventures.
While the moon was once the exclusive playground of superpowers, Japan is now treating it as an emerging market. The government has established a 1 trillion yen fund—roughly 7 billion dollars—to act as a financial safety net for private aerospace firms. This allows startups like ispace to attempt high-stakes lunar landings without the fear of total bankruptcy if a mission fails.
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