[TOKYO, JAPAN, Sep 15, 2021]  SPACE WALKER Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO Akihide Manabe; hereinafter “SPACE WALKER”) announced today that AIR WATER INC. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: Kikuo Toyoda; hereinafter “AIR WATER”) and AIR WATER HOKKAIDO INC. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido; President: Yuji Kitagawa; hereinafter “AIR WATER HOKKAIDO”) will develop technologies utilizing hydrogen to realize a decarbonized society.

As of September 2020, SPACE WALKER Inc. had entered into a Basic Agreement (*1) with AIR WATER and AIR WATER HOKKAIDO to establish a cooperative relationship, mainly related to operations of the suborbital space plane. Upon further discussion, in addition to a launch planned to take place in Taiki, Hokkaido, a new Basic Agreement has been entered as of September 14, 2021 with the intent of developing technologies to realize a decarbonized society.

 

AIR WATER and AIR WATER HOKKAIDO have been engaged in the development of space rockets since the 1970s, through involvement with university research and development of supply facilities. The two companies have an accumulated wealth of knowledge and technologies ranging from production, storage, transportation to usage regarding high pressure gas in the industrial gas business.

 

The three companies will draw on their expertise and technology to jointly develop next-generation composite high pressure vessels(*2) for applications primarily in hydrogen transportation and above-ground supply facilities.

The high-pressure storage vessels will be used in transportation equipment such as hydrogen trailers and curdles, as well as in above-ground hydrogen stations, hydrogen gas demand is expected to grow in energy applications.

 

(*1) Previous Basic Agreement entered by SPACE WALKER, AIR WATER and AIR WATER HOKKAIDO as of September 2020

https://www.space-walker.co.jp/news/press-release/20201008.html

（Japanese only）

[Details of the previous Basic Agreement]

• Matters concerning the procurement of fuel (LOX/methane)
• Demonstration of the use of liquefied bio-methane as rocket fuel
• Matters related to facilities above ground at the launch facility, etc.

 

(*2) Definition of “Next-Generation Composite High Pressure Vessel”

“Next-generation composite high pressure vessel” refers to CFRP composite vessels Type 4 and Type 5 which involve lightweighting engineering, one of the most vital technologies in rocket development. Unlike conventional products (Type 1 through Type 3) such as metal vessels or metal-lined vessels, Type 4 and Type 5 vessels use almost no metal, achieving durability and long life as well as lightweighting to the utmost limit.

 

Type 4 (Type IV)

Material: Full-wrapped composite vessel with resin liner (seamless)

Features: Light weight, low cost, short production lead time

Type 5  (Type V)

Material: Liner-free full-wrap composite vessel

Features: Lightest weight

 

AIR WATER INC.

Location: AIR WATER Building, 2-12-8 Minami Senba, Chuo-ku, Osaka City

Representative: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Kikuo Toyoda

Established: September 24, 1929

Business activities: Diverse businesses including industrial gas, chemicals, medical, energy, agriculture and food, logistics, seawater and aerosols.

Corporate website: https://www.awi.co.jp/

 

AIR WATER HOKKAIDO INC.

Location: 3-1, Kita 3-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Representative: Yuji Kitagawa, President

 (Managing Executive Director AIR WATER INC)

Established: April 1, 2010

Business: Regional business in Hokkaido with a focus on industrial, medical, lifestyle and energy.

Corporate website: https://www.hokkaido-awi.co.jp/

 

SPACE WALKER Inc.

Location: 3F Dai-ichi Yokoyama Building, 3-16-12 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Akihide Manabe, Representative Director and CEO

Established: December 25, 2017

Business description: A university startup conducting research and development of winged reusable suborbital space planes. The company envisions sustainable commercial space transportation for all, as familiar and accessible as commercial air travel today. 

Corporate website: https://space-walker.co.jp/

 

A press release has been issued by AIR WATER INC. on the same day.

SPACE WALKER Inc. (Tokyo Japan, CEO Akihide Manabe. Hereinabove referred to as SPACE WALKER) is a university startup conducting research and development of winged reusable suborbital space planes. The company envisions sustainable commercial space transportation for all, as familiar and accessible as commercial air travel today. For more information, please visit https://www.space-walker.co.jp/en

 

Contact: Corporate Planning Office / PR

Phone (Office) : +81-3-6435-7359

Email: pr@space-walker.co.jp