Suborbital spaceplane
A planned reusable spaceplane meant to take passengers and cargo on suborbital flights from a spaceport at Shimojijima Airport in Okinawa.
Why it matters
A plane that takes off from an airport and switches engine modes could make suborbital flights more like airline operations.
How the technology works
The design uses a patented detonation-based engine meant to run as a jet in the lower atmosphere and as a rocket higher up; the company says it demonstrated switching between the two combustion modes in 2017. It is also working with Okinawa Prefecture to set up Shimojijima Airport in Miyakojima City as its spaceport.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction