Letara

Founded in 2020, Letara is a defense subsystem manufacturer based in Sapporo, Japan working in space.

Letara is a Japanese space startup founded in 2020 by engineers from Hokkaido University's Laboratory of Space Systems. It develops and manufactures hybrid chemical propulsion systems that use plastic as solid fuel combined with liquid oxidizer, aiming for high thrust, safety and low cost. Its products include hybrid rocket engines for launch vehicles and in-space platforms, along with a patented ignition and thrust control technology. The company has conducted engine firing tests at its Akabira, Hokkaido facility, reported raising about 1.8 billion JPY in cumulative funding, and was selected for the J-Startup program and the NEDO Deep-Tech Startups Support Program. It is also a JAXA Partner Startup. Beyond space, Letara is developing business in the defense and national security sector, including collaboration with the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the Japan Self-Defense Forces and defense-related companies, and it positions space technologies as dual-use.