Our Origins: Born in the Snow, Built for the Stars

About Letara

Letara was founded in 2020 by engineers from Hokkaido University’s Laboratory of Space Systems, one of Japan’s top research centers for space propulsion. But our story began long before that. The hybrid engine technology we’re building today is the culmination of over two decades of pioneering research and hands-on experimentation in the northern-most prefecture.

Through years of testing and refinement, driven by ambitious vision and curiosity, we’ve transformed bold ideas into one of the most powerful and reliable hybrid propulsion systems. Born in the spirit of discovery and shaped by perseverance, Letara is now taking that technology beyond the lab and into the future of space exploration.

Our name, Letara, means “pure white snow” in the language of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido. We chose it to honor the region where our technology was born. The vast, remote winters of Hokkaido shaped not just our hardware, but our mindset—resilient, focused, and built to endure.

Today, we operate from advanced facilities with a growing international team. But we carry forward the same spirit of curiosity, perseverance, and ambition that started it all. That spirit will take us from Earth to orbit and far beyond.

Our Mission: Develop cutting edge engines for fast and safe space travel

The future of humanity depends on moving through space faster, safer, and at far lower cost. Letara is here to make that possible.

We build high thrust, clean burning, and low cost hybrid propulsion systems for both rockets and spacecraft.

Our technology makes launch vehicles safer and more affordable, and enables in-space mobility for everything from CubeSats to large commercial missions.

As the world builds massive satellite constellations, lunar stations, and prepares for life beyond Earth, propulsion remains the bottleneck. Today’s rocket engines are still dangerous and expensive. Spacecraft engines are often too slow, too toxic, or too costly to scale. Letara’s hybrid systems are the answer—a new standard in performance, safety, and scalability.

We are not just building engines. We are building the movement systems that will power the next economy—one that spans from Earth orbit to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

Core Values

Resolve as a team

Work through differences and move forward, and focus on results.

Listen to each other and to our customers

Seek to understand perspectives, needs, and customer constraints before deciding.

Try, fail early, and turn failure into learning

Value action over learning over perfection or fear.

Company Details

Company Name: Letara Ltd.

Executive Directors: Co-CEO Landon KAMPS CO-CEO Shota HIRAI

Established: June 23th, 2020

Business Detail: Developing and providing propulsion systems for small satellites, rocket engines, and orbital transfer vehicles.

Address: 10 Chome-2-10 Hassamu 9 Jo, Nishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 063-0829

2022

- Awarded MAEDA CORPORATION Award in "IBARAKI TECH PLANTER 2022"

- Selected for UTokyo IPC’s support program "1st Round"

- Selected for Japan Patent Office "Intellectual Property Acceleration Program (IPAS) 2022"

- Selected for "R&D Startup Support Project／NEDO Entrepreneurs Program（NEP）B" 1st public offering in FY2022

- Designated as “Hokkaido University Startup Company”

- Selected for "Kawasaki NEDO Innovation Center (K-NIC) Startup Hands on Program FY2021 Phase 2

2021

- Awarded Asia Oceania Award in Space Business Idea Contest "S-Booster 2021" sponsored by Japanese Cabinet Office

- Awarded Pioneer Division Prize in "Innovators Under 35 Japan 2021" sponsored by MIT Technology Review

2019

- Founders are Awarded Best Paper Award at the American Institute of Astronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

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