ispace completes preliminary design review for ULTRA lander

ispace announced on 13 November 2026 that the ULTRA lander has completed its Preliminary Design Review. The preliminary design phase is concluded, and the program is moving to the next development stage.

The announcement is dated 13 November 2026. The ULTRA lander's Preliminary Design Review is complete, and the preliminary design phase has concluded.

A system-wide preliminary design has been established, and overall system design feasibility has been confirmed. The design baseline includes mass, power and Delta-V.

Subsystem design updates were reviewed, and the propulsion system design was verified. Nammo is the engine supplier for the ULTRA lander, and ispace has a memorandum of understanding with Nammo.

ULTRA is a full-scale commercial lunar lander platform. It integrates Japanese and U.S. lander platforms. Development started in March 2026, and the vehicle is currently under development.

ULTRA is described as a full-scale commercial lunar lander platform. It integrates Japanese and U.S. lander platforms. Mission 3 is the inaugural mission for the vehicle, and its launch date is 2028.

ispace uses PDR and CDR as development indicators. Completing PDR places ULTRA at a defined point before detailed design and the planned Critical Design Review.

This site reported on 12 November 2026 that ispace had signed a spacecraft propulsion MoU with Nammo. The ULTRA announcement continues that propulsion thread.

The program is advancing to the next development stage. Detailed design activities are planned, and a Critical Design Review is planned.

An engine configuration change is planned, and qualification and verification tests are planned. Flight model manufacturing is planned for Mission 3, the inaugural ULTRA mission, which has a 2028 launch date.