Do you know where outer space starts?
The definition varies depending on the organization, but outer space is generally recognized as beginning just over 100 km above Earth’s surface, where the atmosphere almost completely disappears. Since this is Toyota Times, let’s measure 100 km from Toyota’s headquarters in Toyota City, Aichi. That would take us to around Omaezaki City in Shizuoka. By car, it takes about two hours to get there. Surprised by how close that sounds?
These days, traveling to space is possible, but compared to travel on land, sea, and air, it’s still incredibly new. Outer space feels very close and very far away. A company is taking on the challenge of providing a transportation service to space.
Interstellar Technologies (IST) has made “building space infrastructure the world can trust” its mission. In January 2025, Woven by Toyota (WbyT) announced a capital and business partnership with IST. Then, on August 4, the day this article was published in Japanese, Toyota and WbyT announced that IST would join as one of the Inventors in the demonstration trials in Woven City. People have high hopes that IST’s expertise in space and rockets will combine with that of other Inventors to create new value.
This week on Toyota Times News, Yuta Tomikawa travels to Taiki, Hokkaido, to visit IST. Ever since the town where IST’s headquarters is located was selected as a candidate for an aerospace industry base, it has worked to develop itself as an outer space town.
In order to build infrastructure in outer space, mobility devices that carry cargo are needed more than anything. Their rocket development, supported by personnel seconded from Toyota Group, involves repeated testing until components like propellant tanks break to determine the limits of each core technology.
“Thank you for breaking it” is a phrase often heard during GR car development, and rocket development may follow a similar approach.
IST is currently engaged in building a rocket launch pad, with completion expected in fall 2026. Once it’s ready, the company plans to begin launching small satellites into space.
Behind the words, “we still have so much to do” lies a message of fulfillment.
