Axiom Space boosts funding to $525 million with MUFG Bank as new investor - The Japan Times

BUSINESS / Companies Axiom Space boosts funding to $525 million with MUFG Bank as new investor Axiom Space's latest funding round includes support from new backer MUFG Bank, Japan’s largest bank, along with existing investors, the startup has said. | REUTERS By Sana Pashankar BLOOMBERG SHARE/SAVE X Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Threads Email Print Bookmark story Copy link Jun 5, 2026 Axiom Space has secured roughly an additional $175 million from investors, the startup has said, bringing its most recent fundraising round to more than $525 million as it works to develop a commercial space station. Co-founded by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom Space is among several firms competing to build a commercial replacement to the International Space Station, which is set to be decommissioned by 2030. Texas-based Axiom Space is also working with fashion company Prada to develop spacesuits for NASA. The funding round includes new backer MUFG Bank, Japan’s largest bank, along with existing investors, according to the company. Axiom Space announced in February it had secured $350 million from investors including Type One Ventures and 1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner. The additional funding comes even as prospects for commercial space stations face greater uncertainty. For years, NASA’s plan had been to partially fund the development of as many as two commercial stations, but agency officials signaled in March that NASA wouldn’t have enough money to fund more than one. Earlier this month, the space agency said it’s evaluating feedback from industry and reconsidering its future space station strategy. Axiom Space, which also conducts private astronaut missions to the ISS, announced Tuesday that it will establish a subsidiary in Lucerne, Switzerland, to foster a closer relationship with the European Space Agency and its member states.  A day earlier, rival Vast Space announced that it will establish a European headquarters in Paris and send French astronauts on two crewed missions to space. KEYWORDS Axiom Space(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/axiom-space), space(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/space), MUFG(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/mufg), banks(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/banks), ISS(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/iss), NASA(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/nasa), STARTUPS(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/startups) In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW WHAT’S TRENDING   Editors' Picks Japan needs caregivers. Young Indians are answering the call. Prior to launch, Japan ‘strongly urged’ China to reconsider missile test in Pacific Suspected Asian fraud ring exec served fresh warrant in Japan Japan might be giving the currency market the silent treatment Japanese teen arrested for booting users off streaming service Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth Filmmaker explores history of discrimination against foreign nationals in Japan Japanese nail salons are tourists’ new obsession Okinawa’s prized seaweed under threat as oceans warm ‘Defense,’ not ‘warfare,’ stressed as pacifist Japan beefs up capabilities Our Planet Okinawa’s prized seaweed under threat as oceans warm By Robert Bociaga Podcast Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’ Longform What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival By Alex K.T. Martin SUSTAINABLE JAPAN New Logistics Consortium baton to accelerate trucking efficiency SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS Read more SUPPLEMENTS BINDER Latest News Iran targets sites in Bahrain, Kuwait after wave of U.S. strikes 22 mins ago In Venezuela’s quake ruins, a baby is born 54 mins ago Japan and NATO share concerns about Chinese military activities 57 mins ago Government tweaks phrasing on BOJ in draft policy plan 57 mins ago Netherlands looks to move past Nexperia dispute with China, Dutch minister says 1 hour ago