This Japanese startup wants to become the moon’s very own FedEx

An artist rendering of ispace Inc’s Mission 1 lander on the lunar surface. — ispace Inc

An intensifying US-China space rivalry and Elon Musk’s ambitious Mars programme have fired up scores of startups across the world chasing lucrative contracts, as humans race for resources that could foster life beyond Earth.

Among those is a small Japanese company seeking to make a mark next month with what could be a first for a commercial firm.