Recent Activity
Sierra Space partnership discussions through 2024–2025; Oita Prefecture continues consortium funding pending firm tenant commitment.
Investor Brief
Japan's first horizontal-launch site and only Asian site with a credible Dream Chaser path. Recovery from Virgin Orbit collapse depends on Sierra Space partnership and Japan's growing point-to-point/hypersonic interest. Co-located airport infrastructure is the key reusable asset.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Country
🇯🇵Japan
Region
Asia
Established
2,020
Launches / Year
0
Years Active
6
Strategic Position
33.4794° N, 131.7372° E
Azimuth: Variable — air-launch flexibility allows broad azimuth selection by carrier-aircraft positioning
33.48°N — horizontal-launch site; latitude is less critical than for vertical pads since carrier-aircraft can fly to optimal launch positions
Future Milestones
- 2027
Possible Dream Chaser landing capability commissioning if Sierra Space signs
- 2028
Point-to-point demonstration flight target if hypersonic partner secured
About
Spaceport Oita is a planned horizontal-launch facility co-located at Oita Airport in Kyushu, Japan. Originally announced in 2020 as Asia's first Virgin Orbit operating site for LauncherOne air-launch missions, the spaceport pivoted after Virgin Orbit's 2023 bankruptcy and is now repositioning for Sierra Space Dream Chaser landings, point-to-point hypersonic flight, and other Japanese commercial horizontal-launch operators.
Key Features
Asia's first horizontal-launch spaceport concept, co-located at an active commercial airport
Originally partnered with Virgin Orbit for LauncherOne air-launch operations (cancelled 2023)
Repositioning post-2023 for Sierra Space Dream Chaser, point-to-point flight, and domestic operators
Oita Prefecture and NTT Communications lead the operating consortium
Existing 3,000m runway suitable for carrier-aircraft and spaceplane operations
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Virgin Orbit LauncherOne missions planned 2022–2023 (cancelled following Virgin Orbit bankruptcy April 2023)
Sierra Space Dream Chaser landing-site discussions ongoing