Ispace has secured $90.2 million for its lunar exploration project Maison Moderne

Ispace has secured $90.2 million for its lunar exploration project Maison Moderne

The tally is the largest amount ever raised in the commercial space sector outside of the US.  

The Japanese firm announced the news on Wednesday, saying the money will be used to develop modular lunar landing gear with which the company can locate water mass on the moon to make fuel.

Among the investors are the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, the Development Bank of Japan, Suzuki Motor as well as Japan Airlines.

A first mission is expected to take place in 2019, putting the lander in orbit around the moon, before a second mission in 2020 to land on the moon, followed by the deployment of several robots to then explore it.