The Japanese company ispace has announced the launch of a new project for delivering cargo to the Moon in cooperation with SpaceX. ispace has acquired the capability to place 500 kilograms of cargo on the Starship spacecraft for $50 million. The first flight is scheduled for 2030.
As part of this initiative, ispace will develop a specialized transport vehicle for movement on the lunar surface. This vehicle will allow for the simultaneous transportation of scientific equipment and other types of cargo for various countries and companies. The company views this service as a new solution that will significantly reduce the costs of delivering cargo to the Moon.
Previously, ispace attempted a lunar landing twice in 2023 and 2025 using the Falcon-9 rocket, but these missions were unsuccessful. Now, the company has developed a plan for the soft landing of three 'Ultra' vehicles by 2030. One of these projects will be implemented within the NASA 'Commercial Lunar Payload Services' (CLPS) program.
According to information from SpaceX, this partnership will expand the capabilities for delivering small cargo to the lunar surface. Furthermore, it is planned that the Starship spacecraft will transport astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis program in 2028. Experts believe that this collaboration will contribute to the development of infrastructure on Earth's natural satellite and the expansion of the private space market.
The international industrial exhibition 'Innoprom-2026' is taking place in Yekaterinburg from July 6 to 9. The main theme this year is 'Industry 360: Production Without Borders.' The exhibition showcases various achievements of Russian enterprises in the field of transport and industry.
At the 'Sinara' group's stand, a model of a high-speed railway train designed for a high-speed mainline was demonstrated. It is planned that the rolling stock will be produced at the 'Ural Lokomotivlari' plant, with cooperation from over 150 component suppliers from 36 regions of Russia.
In the aviation sector, Rostec presented the APD-13 piston engine for civil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the M105 power unit for small aviation. The APD-13 engine is designed for civil drone flights at altitudes up to 3000 meters. The 'Delta-T-M' UAV, intended for operational monitoring of industrial facilities and ensuring their security, which can be used at large factories, oil and gas, and energy facilities, was also shown for the first time.
In the robotics segment, a remotely controlled concrete crusher capable of operating in hazardous areas without human involvement was presented. According to manufacturers, this device is even capable of lifting ladders. In the automotive industry, new models were presented: the 'i-Sky' crossover from 'Evolute', the 'Lada Iskra' from 'AvtoVAZ', and production-ready models of 'Lada Azimut'. Additionally, the 'Moskvich' M70 crossover was presented, and Kama showcased the 'Atom' electric car assembled at a Moscow plant.
The Kaluga region's stand featured the 'Tenet T9' crossover, which is planned to be produced at the former 'Volkswagen' plant, while the Tula region's exhibit displayed the 'Haval H7' road vehicle manufactured by 'Great Wall Motor.'
Regarding aviation, it was announced that the first batches of updated Tu-214 aircraft are being sent to state customers, according to Vadim Badekhag, head of the United Aircraft Corporation. The first batch will consist of 11 aircraft. Dmitry Yadrov, Director of Rosaviatsiya, reported that the certification of the regional 'Baikal' aircraft for 9 seats is scheduled for the third quarter of 2027, and the certification of the 'Osvey' aircraft for the Russia-Belarus route with 19 passengers is set for 2029.
In the shipbuilding sector, it was learned that more than 150 different vessels were delivered in Russia in the first half of 2025 and 2026. Work has also begun on designing tankers that will be fully produced in Russia for liquefied gas transportation.
The exhibition features broad international participation. Indonesia received the status of a partner country for 'Innoprom-2026' this year. Furthermore, national pavilions represent Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus. Companies from Vietnam, India, and China are also present among the foreign participants.
