Letara, a Hokkaido University startup, has raised a total of 650 million yen in funding from ANA Trading, SMBC Venture Capital, and others to develop the next generation of satellite engines. Letara has developed a solid plastic fuel rocket engine that is safe to handle with bare hands, while maintaining the same propulsive power as existing liquid hydrazine engines—which are both extremely toxic and highly explosive.

Reducing the safety requirements needed in rocket production does not simply reduce danger and costs, but also makes the development of such technology more broadly accessible to developing nations and smaller companies.

Letara engines are currently planned to be installed on an inter-orbit vehicle as early as 2026.

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