Iwatani Giken Co., Ltd. Succeeded in reaching the stratosphere (altitude 10,555m) with an in-house developed manned gas balloon in preparation for the start of commercial space excursion operations this summer.

[Iwatani Giken Co., Ltd.] Succeeded in reaching the stratosphere (altitude 10,555m) with an in-house developed manned gas balloon in preparation for the start of commercial space excursion operations this summer.

*View in browser* *Iwatani Giken Co., Ltd.*
Press release: June 4, 2024
**
A self-developed manned gas balloon successfully reaches the stratosphere (altitude 10,555m) in preparation for the start of commercial space excursion operations this summer.
*A space development company aiming to realize commercial operations of the world’s first “balloon space excursion service” this summer* * Iwatani Giken (Head office: Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, Representative Director and CEO: Iwatani), a space development company aiming for space tours using balloons
Keisuke) conducted a free flight manned flight test in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido on June 2, 2024, and reached the stratosphere with a maximum altitude of 10,555 m. *
The view outside the window when reaching the highest altitude of 10,555m

Since the moored flight test conducted in Fukushima in February 2022, Iwatani Giken has been conducting flight tests mainly within Hokkaido on a monthly basis while gradually increasing the altitude. This time, the aircraft successfully reached the stratosphere for the first time at a maximum altitude of 10,555m, using a two-seater pressurized cabin similar to the type of aircraft that will be used for commercial operations scheduled to begin this summer.

▊ *Outline of experiment conducted on June 2, 2024*
* Experimental purpose *
: Testing the operation of a pressurized cabin and life support system similar to those used in commercial operations scheduled to begin this summer in the low-pressure environment of the stratosphere, and demonstrating that it is possible to reach altitudes of over 10,000 meters with our own balloons.
*Takeoff point*: Shintoku Town, Hokkaido
*Takeoff time*: 3:49am
*Landing point*: Shihoro Town, Hokkaido
*Landing time*: 5:48am
*Flight distance*: 28.6km
*Flight time*: 119 minutes
*Achieved altitude*: 10,555m
*Pilot*: Research and Development Department Experiment Division Operation Team Team Leader Kowa Miyajima
Iwatani Giken’s cabin “T-10 EARTHER” took off at dawn
Pilot Kowa Miyajima checking the route at an altitude of around 10,555m ▊ * Launch/flight test using in-house developed cabin and gas balloon: Development history to date*
　July 2020 Manned space excursion project started
June 2021 T-3 Airtight Cabin | Unmanned launch test launches and recovers airtight cabin into the stratosphere
　February 2022 T-5 cabin | Reached 30m altitude in manned moored flight test July 2022 T-5 cabin | Reaching 50m altitude in manned moored flight test October 2022 T-9 I Cabin | Reaching 50m altitude in manned free flight test November 2022 T-9 I Cabin | Reaching an altitude of 102m in manned free flight test
　February 2023 T-9 I Cabin | Reaching an altitude of 408m in manned free flight test
　March 2023 T-9 II cabin | Reached 1,190m altitude in manned free flight test April 2023 T-9 II cabin | Reaching altitude of 2,843m in manned free flight test July 2023 T-9 III airtight cabin | Reaching 6,072m altitude in manned free flight test
October 2023 T-9 III airtight cabin | Reaching an altitude of 10,669m in manned free flight test
　November 2023 T-10-III Cabin | Reaching an altitude of 30m in manned moored flight test
April 2024 T-10-VII airtight cabin | Reaching altitude of 3,690m in manned free flight test
June 2024 T-10-VII Airtight Cabin | Reaching an altitude of 10,555m in manned free flight test (this time)
*All T-10 types are 2-seater cabins.
▊ * Iwaya Giken Co., Ltd.: * * https://iwaya.biz/*

Iwatani Giken is a company that develops high-altitude gas balloons and space-related technologies. We will develop technology that will allow anyone to easily explore space, and create an “unseen future” with new technology.

* List of press releases from Iwatani Giken Co., Ltd.: *
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/88928
*About details about this release*
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000038.000088928.html

Iwatani Giken Co., Ltd. Succeeded in reaching the stratosphere (altitude 10,555m) with an in-house developed manned gas balloon in preparation for the start of commercial space excursion operations this summer.

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