"Revolutionizing Space Access: Building Reusable Rockets for Everyone's Journey to Space - Aron Lentsch, Orbspace"

"The key to making space travel accessible isn't just creating reusable rockets—it's creating rockets that can be reused thousands of times, just like aircraft."

From developing future space planes at JAXA to founding his own rocket company in Japan, Austrian engineer Aron Lentsch, founder of orbspace, is pioneering a new approach to space accessibility. We spoke with him about his journey from European space agencies to Tsukuba's startup ecosystem, the challenges of developing truly reusable rockets, and his vision for making space travel attainable for everyone through innovative materials and aircraft-inspired design.

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―Please introduce yourself and tell us what brought you to Japan.

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I am Austrian. I was born in Vienna and studied mechanical engineering there. I started working at the European Space Agency as a young graduate but soon had the opportunity to come to Japan for the first time. That was 25 years ago.

I worked at JAXA as an invited researcher, where I worked on future space planes - a combination of Concorde and Space Shuttle concepts. The idea was to implement an aircraft that could fly to orbit.

After that, I returned to Europe and joined the French Space Agency CNES, where I worked as a propulsion engineer for developing the Ariane rocket. The Ariane rocket in Europe is comparable to the H2 and H3 rockets of JAXA in Japan. I worked on next-generation, future rocket development, which is now Ariane 6.

Seeing companies like Virgin Galactic in the US developing spacecraft to reach the edge of space, I realized I had extensive experience in future rocket development. This inspired me to create my own company, starting with an engineering firm in Austria, where I received contracts from the European Union and Austria.

―Why did you choose Tsukuba City as your home base?

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Japan has become quite famous for its many space startups and venture companies. I had already been to Japan in the past, and I had many connections in JAXA. My wife also worked for JAXA; through her, I studied Japanese and became familiar with the culture.

Japan was an attractive choice because it's a big country with the capacity to support major projects. For such large-scale projects like rocket development, you need a country with substantial infrastructure and support systems. I chose Tsukuba specifically because JAXA and other space companies are located here. The presence of the Tsukuba Startup Park was also a significant factor, as it provides strong support for space-related ventures.

What I found particularly appealing about Japan is the very strong industrial base and the presence of powerful companies with world-class products. This kind of environment is essential for space industry development. The companies here are interested in contributing to space technology, which creates excellent opportunities for collaboration.

― Did you feel any advantages or unexpected positive surprises when starting a business in Japan?

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What still surprises me is the level of support here at the Tsukuba Startup Park. I didn't expect such strong support. Otsuka-san of Tsukuba Center Inc., who manages the Tsukuba Startup Park, and all his colleagues are incredibly supportive - it couldn't be better. About half a year ago, he organized the Utsunomiya Tsukuba Space Event in Tokyo.

The event was quite successful, and many companies approached me afterward. Notably, the Japan Self-Defense Forces showed strong interest in startups. As a foreigner, I never expected to have opportunities in the defense industry. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite—they are very interested in attracting technology from various sources, and we are developing closer collaborations.

This active support for companies is very different from that of other countries. The situation in Europe is changing, though. After I came to Japan, also Germany, France and the UK became more active in the space sector. Europe is now awakening, with venture companies suddenly emerging. However, four years ago, when I came here, the US and Japan were the two leading space venture ecosystems.

―What do you consider to be the biggest challenge facing the space industry today? What solutions does Orbspace offer to those challenges, and what differentiates Orbspace from its competitors?

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There are several significant challenges in the space industry today. The primary one is funding disparity. If you start a company in the US with the same idea, you get substantially more funding. America has over 100 rocket startups and continues to see new ones emerge. While I'm trying to raise $2 million in our seed round, comparable US startups would typically get about 10 times as much, and the amounts keep increasing. It's challenging to compete at this level.

The government is trying to help through funding programs. For instance, if you receive one million dollars from investors, you can get an additional two million in matching funds. However, we still need to secure more private investment.

Another challenge is that many startups in Japan focus on what they consider easier business models, like satellite development. With CubeSats, you can buy and assemble all the components, similar to student projects. Many investors prefer this approach because it requires less funding and promises quicker returns. However, the competition in this sector is extremely high.

This leads to my biggest concern: investors are becoming more selective with space companies, often preferring to invest in other technologies. Supporting more ambitious projects is crucial, even though they're more challenging. Successfully executing such projects could create unicorn companies, which Japan currently lacks compared to other countries. That's why I'm pursuing this ambitious project, though it requires finding investors willing to share the risk and support a challenging goal.

Another significant challenge relates to JAXA's approach. While JAXA should encourage new startups with new technologies, they currently focus on supporting a small number of pre-selected companies with large amounts of money, particularly in the rocket sector. Providing smaller funding to a large number of startups would give them a chance to show their capability. This would create more opportunities for innovative rocket technologies to emerge and that has worked extremely well in the US.

―What exactly is Orbspace's vision of a society in which space travel is accessible to all? What are your vision and long-term goals for achieving this goal?

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Creating a truly reusable rocket is technically challenging. In the past, making a reusable rocket often ended up being more expensive than an expendable one. Extensive maintenance was required after each reuse such as the replacement of heat protection systems. Reusability becomes commercially attractive if it is more like an aircraft—potentially 1,000 or several thousand times. So our vision is to build a rocket, with this level of reusability and easy maintenance. That way we can achieve affordable ticket prices for everyone to fulfil a lifetime dream to go to space.

We're utilizing innovative materials in our approach. Rather than carbon fiber, we're returning to metals, specifically a special steel produced by a Japanese company. This new steel combines high strength with flexibility. Instead of snapping under stress, it bends, preventing sudden catastrophic failures under high loads. This characteristic is crucial for safety.

Our initial goal is to develop a small rocket that doesn't push technical limits too far. The first generation will reach 200 kilometers in altitude before returning. The key is its reusability - like an aircraft, it can be refueled, checked, and flown again.

The applications are diverse, ranging from private space tourism to defense applications. Our system offers unique advantages for real-time imaging. While conventional satellite constellations require 500 satellites for continuous coverage, our approach needs only 10 rockets that can launch on demand. Though each flight lasts just minutes, we can launch successive missions as needed.

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Space debris management is another critical application. By enhancing the performance of our rocket engines, we can reach higher altitudes to remove tens of thousands of debris objects orbiting Earth. This task is particularly well-suited for our low-cost rocket. Because increased usage will further reduce the cost of each spaceflight.

―Do you have a message or advice for young entrepreneurs and engineers aspiring to work in the space industry and for international entrepreneurs considering starting a business in Japan?

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My primary advice comes from my optimistic perspective on the space sector in Japan. Several ministries and organizations actively support space businesses here. The Ministry of Communications and, notably, the Ministry of Defense are particularly open to foreign companies. The Defense Ministry is currently establishing a research organization similar to DARPA in the US, which has been crucial to America's progress in this field.

The US has long supported small companies through NASA and DARPA programs, and Japan is now developing similar initiatives. What's particularly encouraging is that these programs are explicitly designed to be accessible to foreign entrepreneurs. This represents a significant opportunity for international business development in Japan's space sector.

On a personal note, I aspire to make my company a showcase example. As the first foreigner to receive a startup visa from Ibaraki, I believe my success could demonstrate that foreign entrepreneurs can thrive in Japan's space industry. This would encourage other international companies to establish themselves here, knowing they can receive the same support and opportunities as Japanese companies.

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 (Editor’s Note)

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Throughout our conversation with Aron Lentsch, what stood out was his remarkable balance of ambitious vision with practical engineering expertise. His eyes lit up particularly when discussing the special Japanese steel that makes his rockets uniquely reusable.

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Many might find it surprising that a European engineer would choose Japan as his base for revolutionizing rocket technology. However, Lentsch's international perspective and appreciation for Japan's industrial capabilities have allowed him to see opportunities others might miss. His approach combines sophisticated technology with practical implementation, addressing the fundamental challenges of space accessibility through innovative materials and aircraft-inspired design. This vision of making space travel attainable for all reflects his deep understanding of the technical hurdles that have kept space inaccessible—and how his rockets might finally overcome these barriers.

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