White Label Space JAPAN

White Label Space JAPAN (WLSJ) is the Japanese arm of White Label Space (WLS), an international space-engineering startup founded on 1 January 2008 by a team of space-engineering professionals. WLS describes itself as a 'brandless' space-development company that participates in the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP), a US$30 million competition sponsored by Google and operated by the X PRIZE Foundation. The prize required a privately developed unmanned craft to land on the Moon by 31 December 2014, travel at least 500 metres from the landing site, and transmit specified high-resolution images, video and data back to Earth. WLSJ was established to develop the rover for the WLS GLXP entry and to handle public-relations activities in Japan. It was the only Japanese team entered in the competition, which by August 2010 had attracted 21 teams from around the world (later reported as 28 teams from 18 countries). The team combined academic expertise — notably Professor Yoshida of Tohoku University's aerospace engineering department as development leader — with younger members active in academic research, advertising and PR, video direction, art and management consulting. WLSJ ran an open, participatory campaign aimed at Japanese supporters, including fan meetings such as the third official fan meeting held on 10 September 2011 at Tokyo Culture Culture, where the lunar rover and its development leader appeared. A press conference on 29 August 2011 generated coverage in major Japanese media including Nikkei, Yomiuri and Mainichi. A new homepage was launched at wlsj.jp on 9 September 2011. The parent WLS is based in the Netherlands and draws on engineers and media specialists with experience at European space agencies such as ESA, working with partners in Japan and other countries. WLS's stated mission is to advance Web 2.0 marketing and monetisation by offering brandless space missions to sponsors, who can attach their messages to everything from vehicle naming rights to clean-room suits. The current operational status of WLSJ is not documented in the available evidence.

White Label Space (WLS) was founded on 1 January 2008 by an internationally active team of space-engineering experts. It positions itself as a 'brandless' space-development startup and entered the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP), a competition sponsored by Google and operated by the X PRIZE Foundation with a total purse of US$30 million (about ¥3 billion). The rules required a privately developed unmanned craft to land on the Moon by 31 December 2014, travel at least 500 metres from the landing site, and transmit specified high-resolution images, video and data to Earth. As of August 2010, 21 teams from around the world had entered; later WLSJ material described 28 teams from 18 countries. WLS is based in the Netherlands and brings together young engineers with experience at European space agencies such as ESA, media specialists, and veterans of the aerospace industry, working with corporate partners in Japan and other countries. Its stated mission is to take the drivers of Web 2.0 marketing and monetisation to the next level while offering brandless space missions to anyone with a strong business plan. Sponsors can attach their messages to virtually every element of the GLXP mission, from naming rights for the space vehicle to clean-room suits. White Label Space JAPAN (WLSJ) was created to develop the rover for the WLS entry and to carry out public-relations activities in Japan. It was the only Japanese team entered in the GLXP. The team combined academic expertise — notably Professor Yoshida of Tohoku University's aerospace engineering department as development leader — with younger members working in academic research, advertising and PR, video direction, art and management consulting. WLSJ emphasised that no space expertise was required to take part in its events, framing them as open, visitor-participatory space development. WLSJ built a grassroots supporter campaign in Japan. A press conference on 29 August 2011 produced articles in major outlets including Nikkei, Yomiuri and Mainichi, and drew interest from many quarters. On 9 September 2011 the team announced the launch of a new homepage at wlsj.jp. On 10 September 2011 it held its third official fan meeting at Tokyo Culture Culture, where the lunar rover that had appeared at the press conference was shown and Professor Yoshida was expected to attend. The blog also carried sections for mission, team, support messages, donations, partners, events, careers, merchandise and contact, indicating an active sponsorship and community programme. The available evidence does not record the outcome of the GLXP attempt or the later status of WLSJ.

• White Label Space founded by an international team of space-engineering experts

• 21 teams from around the world reported as entered in the Google Lunar X PRIZE

• WLSJ press conference; coverage in Nikkei, Yomiuri, Mainichi and other media

• New WLSJ homepage launched at wlsj.jp

• Official fan meeting Vol. 3 held at Tokyo Culture Culture with the lunar rover on display

Brandless, sponsor-funded private lunar exploration; open, participatory space development.

• Lunar rover for the Google Lunar X PRIZE

  Rover developed by WLSJ for the WLS GLXP entry; shown at the 2011 press conference and fan meeting.

1. 1White Label Space Japan (official blog)whitelabelspacejapanoffice.blogspot.com
2. 2White Label Space Japan: ABOUTwhitelabelspacejapanoffice.blogspot.com
3. 3White Label Space JAPAN (Wikidata)wikidata.org