JAL Group Launches “ARGO PROJECT,” the World’s First Lunar Transport Service by an Airline

26 May, 2026

JALUX and ispace Sign 2028 Payload Service Agreement to Deliver Cultural Artifacts

TOKYO—May 26, 2026—ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, and JALUX Inc. (JALUX), the trading company of Japan Airlines (JAL), today announced that the two companies have signed a payload service agreement (PSA) for ispace’s next lunar landing mission, Mission 3, currently scheduled for 2028.

Under the agreement, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) and JALUX, will begin selling payload transport capacity to private companies and local governments on May 27, 2026, for delivery to the lunar surface.

A concept image of the Möbius Ark, lunar transportation container.  ispace’s ULTRA lunar lander scheduled for Mission 3.

In November 2025, ispace and three JAL Group companies (JAL, JALUX, and JAL Engineering) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore collaboration in the fields of lunar transportation and operations. Today’s PSA marks the first step in the concrete implementation of that collaboration. Utilizing the payload transport capacity, the JAL Group is launching the “ARGO PROJECT,” an initiative to pass on Earth’s culture on the Moon for future generations, utilizing ispace lunar landers.

The ARGO Project

Officially named “The ARGO Trans-Lunar Heritage Project,” and embodying the concept of “The Ark Relaying for Generations Onward,” this project is inspired by the constellation Argo Navis, which represents a great sailing ship. It aims to pass on precious cultural heritage and human activities to future generations.

In the rapidly changing world, there is a constant risk that precious cultural artifacts and ways of life could be suddenly lost. The lunar environment offers a location to protect and preserve these valuable cultural assets until the day they are opened by future generations.

JAL and JALUX serve as the project’s two main organizers. JALUX will be responsible for the dedicated lunar transport container, “Möbius Ark,” including soliciting items for inclusion and developing the dedicated container. The transportation container design measures approximately 20 cm × 20 cm × 10 cm, features internal compartments, and uses materials capable of withstanding the lunar environment to protect the contents.

JAL will collaborate with local governments and companies throughout Japan to collect items that reflect modern culture, such as regional specialties and products representative of local businesses. ispace will serve as the transporter of the specialized container carrying the cultural artifacts to the Moon’s surface.

This marks the JAL Group’s first venture of this kind, and the Möbius Ark container will be photographed once it reaches the lunar surface.

For business inquiries, please contact JALUX Inc., Space Business Team at moc.x1780429597ulaj@1780429597zibs1780429597.

Building on more than 70 years of history in air transportation, the JAL Group is supporting the development of a new transportation network to the Moon. Together with partner companies and local governments, the goal is a society where space transportation becomes more accessible through missions like this to pass on culture to future generations.