Lagrapo

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Lagrapo
Company typePrivate
Industrymanagement consulting
FoundedJuly 2022 in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
FounderMuneyuki Takano
FateActive
Headquarters
Chūō, Tokyo
,
Japan
ProductsCubeSats
Websitelagrapo.co.jp

Lagrapo is a Japanese management consulting firm providing assistance based on the management methodology of space programs. The company was founded by Muneyuki Takano, an aerospace engineer who previously worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and JAXA.[1] The company's first satellite, Ishiki was launched on the second flight of Space One's KAIROS rocket in December 2024 but was destroyed when the launch was terminated prematurely.[2]

History

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Lagrapo was founded by Muneyuki Takano in 2022. Takano previously worked at MHI and took part in designing and launching the H-IIA rocket, and at JAXA where he participated in the development of the H-II Transfer Vehicle.[1][3]

In June 2024, the company organized a tour for children residing in mainland Kagoshima Prefecture to visit Tanegashima and witness the third launch of the Japanese space agency JAXA's H3 Launch Vehicle, carrying the ALOS-4 satellite.[4] As the launch was delayed by a day due to unfavorable weather conditions, the tour could not witness the launch itself but nevertheless visited the Tanegashima Space Center.[5][6]

Lagrapo satellite project

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The Lagrapo satellite project is an initiative by Lagrapo to grant people who generally have not participated in space engineering an opportunity to be involved in developing satellites, and aims to educate the next generation of aerospace engineers.[7][3][8] The Ishiki satellite, developed by high school students in Hiroo Gakuen was the first step in this project.[9]

For Ishiki, Lagrapo was responsible for the planning, satellite manufacturing, launch service procurement, and fund raising.[10] Orbital Engineering Inc. provided technical assistance in the designing, manufacturing, and testing of the satellite.[11] The satellite was developed in about a year.[12] While in orbit, Ishiki was to deploy a figure of Santa Claus on his sled, along with illuminating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to enable ground observation of the satellite.[13] The words "Dare Mighty Things." and "Let's make it to space this time." were written on the satellite.[1][9]

On 31 October 2024, the company announced that Ishiki will be launched on the second flight of Space One's KAIROS rocket.[10] Ishiki was launched on 18 December 2024 but did not reach orbit as the launch was terminated inflight.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "広尾学園高校が人工衛星製作、その悲喜「極寒の LED試験」". Forbes Japan (in Japanese). December 13, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  2. ^ Foust, Jeff (December 18, 2024). "Second Kairos launch fails". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  3. ^ a b "スペースワンのカイロスロケット２号機に広尾学園高校の衛星が搭載へ。コンサルティング会社LAGRAPOが支援". sorabatake (in Japanese). November 4, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  4. ^ "「未来の宇宙事業の担い手に」H3ロケット打上げ現地視察ツアーに、鹿児島の子供たちを招待" (Press release) (in Japanese). Lagrapo. May 31, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "【日本旅行ご協力】2024年6月30日(日)、H3ロケット打上げ現地視察ツアーで種子島に行きました。" (Press release) (in Japanese). Lagrapo. July 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  6. ^ "H3ロケット3号機視察ツアーが種子島入り 打ち上げ延期で臨時ツアーも". Yakushima Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). July 10, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  7. ^ "スペースワン、「カイロス」ロケット2号機に台湾宇宙機関を含む衛星5機を搭載". UchuBiz (in Japanese). November 13, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  8. ^ "高校生が作った人工衛星「ISHIKI」がカイロスロケット2号機で宇宙へ". Wakayama Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). December 10, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  9. ^ a b Ishihira, Michinori (January 3, 2025). "カイロスと飛んだ広尾学園の人工衛星　宇宙へ届けた未来のメッセージ". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  10. ^ a b "株式会社ラグラポ、広尾学園の衛星「ISHIKI」を打上げのためスペースワンと打上げ輸送サービス契約(Launch Services Agreement)を締結" (Press release) (in Japanese). Lagrapo. October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "広尾学園中学・高等学校と弊社が開発した「ISHIKI」のカイロスロケット2号機での打ち上げについて" (Press release) (in Japanese). Lagrapo. December 19, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Ishikura, Tetsuya; Sasaki, Ryo (December 14, 2024). "仏像やサンタクロースも　きょう発射のカイロスロケットが運ぶもの". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-01.
  13. ^ "飛んだ！10分後落胆…小型人工衛星搭載の高校生「悔しいが貴重な体験」". The Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). December 19, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
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