Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
ANA Holdings invests in space construction startup Space Quarters
Japan’s ANA Holdings has invested in Space Quarters, a startup working on ways to build large structures in space.
ANA, the parent company of All Nippon Airways, did not disclose how much it invested.
Space Quarters raised ¥910 million in a funding round backed by several venture capital investors.
The Tohoku University spin-off plans to send compact building components into space, where robots would assemble them on site instead of launching complete structures.
The company is developing a system called DAIQ, and ANA says it has passed ground tests and demonstrations in simulated weightlessness and lunar gravity.
The funding will support development of the system, which could be used in orbit and, in the future, on the moon.
ANA Holdings is taking a stake in Space Quarters, a Japanese startup developing technology to build large structures in space.
ANA did not disclose the size of its investment.
Space Quarters said it raised ¥910 million, about $5.7 million, in a pre-Series A funding round.
The Tohoku University spin-off plans to send compact components into space and use robots to assemble them.
Its plans include building in orbit, with operations on the moon also under consideration.
- Who
- ANA Holdings and Space Quarters.
- What
- ANA Holdings is investing in Space Quarters, which is developing robotic systems to build large structures in space.
- When
- The investment announcement date is not stated.
- Where
- Japan; Space Quarters plans to build structures in orbit, with the moon also under consideration.
- Why
- ANA sees potential as rocket launches have become more cost-effective. Space Quarters plans to use its funding to develop its construction system.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Space Quarters demonstrated component welding aboard an aircraft in simulated zero gravity, according to ANA.
Ground tests of the DAIQ system were conducted successfully, ANA said.
Space Quarters said it had raised ¥910 million in a pre-Series A round, alongside ANA's investment announcement.
- ANA investment
- Size not disclosed
- Pre-Series A funding
- ¥910 million, approximately $5.7 million
- Company origin
- Tohoku University spin-off
- Construction system
- DAIQ, using multiple robots to assemble components
- Testing
- Ground tests conducted in June 2026
What people are saying
At the heart of the system is DAIQ, in which multiple robots work together to handle every stage of construction, from grasping and positioning components to joining them