NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS (NX Group) has invested in ElevationSpace Inc., a startup developing space-to-Earth transportation services, through the NX Global Innovation Investment Limited Partnership.
ElevationSpace is building logistics solutions designed to retrieve goods researched, tested and manufactured in space. Its portfolio includes the ELS-R capsule, which combines microgravity experimentation with cargo return capabilities, and the ELS-RS, a dedicated capsule intended to transport supplies from future private space stations back to Earth.
The company also plans to launch Aoba, Japan’s first privately developed re-entry satellite, in or after the second half of 2026.
According to NX Group, the investment reflects its strategy to expand into emerging growth sectors and prepare for the future commercialization of space logistics. The company expects demand for global supply chains connecting launch operations, space manufacturing and cargo recovery to increase as commercial space activities expand and the International Space Station approaches its planned retirement at the end of 2030.
Through the partnership, NX Group aims to leverage its global logistics expertise to help develop end-to-end transport solutions linking space and Earth while supporting the long-term growth of the commercial space industry.
