Japan's ANA invests in space construction startup Space Quarters

ANA Holdings has announced in a press release that it is taking a stake in Space Quarters. The Japanese airline group, which includes All Nippon Airways (ANA), is investing in space tourism and the construction of large structures in space. ANA is one of several companies backing the Japanese startup.

ANA did not disclose the size of its investment. In an announcement coinciding with ANA's, Space Quarters said it had raised ¥910 million, approximately $5.7 million, from multiple venture capital investors in a pre-Series A round. The startup had previously raised roughly the same amount.

The Tohoku University spin-off plans to use the funding to develop a system for building large structures in orbit. Rather than launching fully assembled structures, it aims to send basic components into space in compact form aboard rockets. A robot would then assemble them on site.

The plans extend beyond Earth orbit, with operations on the moon also under consideration. ANA sees significant potential as rocket launches have become more cost-effective recently.

"At the heart of the system is DAIQ, in which multiple robots work together to handle every stage of construction, from grasping and positioning components to joining them," ANA said. The group noted that successful ground tests were conducted in June 2026. According to ANA, Space Quarters also demonstrated component welding aboard an aircraft in simulated zero gravity in March. The process was also tested under simulated lunar gravity.