PD AeroSpace

PD AeroSpace, Ltd. is a Japanese aerospace firm, founded in 2007 by Shuji Ogawa, focused on developing a commercially viable suborbital spaceplane. Ogawa, who holds a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering and has prior experience at Mitsubishi on a new fighter jet project and in engine parts development within the Toyota group, was inspired by the burgeoning private space sector in the United States. His background, which includes assisting his father with experiments from a young age, fueled his ambition to become a pilot and astronaut, ultimately leading to the creation of PD AeroSpace.

The company is strategically targeting the space tourism market with a fully reusable, winged suborbital aircraft designed to carry two pilots and six passengers. Its business model revolves around providing these space travel services, as well as offering air launch services for small satellites and conducting high-altitude research. To make space more accessible, the company aims to offer initial flights at a price point of approximately ¥14,000,000. Key financial partners, including ANA Holdings and the travel agency H.I.S., have made strategic investments, securing respective stakes in the company and forming business alliances.

The core of PD AeroSpace's technical approach is a proprietary, patented hybrid engine. This engine is uniquely capable of switching between a jet combustion mode for atmospheric flight and a rocket combustion mode for space travel, a technology they successfully demonstrated in 2017. This design allows the spaceplane to take off and land horizontally at conventional airports, significantly reducing the reliance on specialized and costly spaceport infrastructure. The company emphasizes cost-efficiency in its development by utilizing commercially available components where possible. In 2020, PD AeroSpace reached a significant milestone by signing a basic agreement with Okinawa Prefecture to develop Japan's first spaceport for manned spacecraft at Shimojishima Airport, which will serve as a test and future operational site.

Keywords: space tourism, suborbital spaceplane, hybrid engine, reusable spacecraft, commercial spaceflight, satellite launch, aerospace engineering, pulse detonation, private space company, spaceport development