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Premium sake brand Dassai is set to embark on an unprecedented venture: brewing sake in space.

The initiative, known as the Dassai Moon Project, represents a significant milestone in both the food and beverage industry and the realm of space exploration.

Scheduled for liftoff today (October 20 2025), from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, this mission aims to explore the feasibility of sake fermentation in a microgravity environment.

The project will use advanced brewing equipment and premium sake ingredients – including rice, Koji, yeast and water – transported aboard H3 Rocket No. 7, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Upon arrival at the International Space Station (ISS), these materials will be used in an experiment led by Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui within the Kibou (Hope) module.

In 2024, Dassai unveiled its ambitious vision of establishing the first sake brewery on the moon, with a long-term goal of full-scale production by 2050.

The initial experiment aboard the ISS will serve as a critical step toward this goal, allowing researchers to study how fermentation processes are affected by the unique conditions of space.

The experiment will take place in a simulated lunar gravity environment, using an artificial gravity generator within the Cell Culture and Bio-engineering Facility-Light (CBEF-L) installed in Kibou.

This research not only aims to enhance our understanding of fermentation in space but also seeks to integrate traditional sake craftsmanship with the advancements of space technology.

Upon completion of the brewing experiment, approximately 520 grams of moromi – the fermented mash – will be returned to Earth.

Half of this batch will be pressed into a limited-edition sake, aptly named 'Dassai Moon,' which has already garnered significant interest, pre-selling for JPY 1.1 million (approximately &650,000) in Japan. Proceeds from these sales will support domestic space initiatives.

The remaining moromi will be preserved as the first-ever sample of space-brewed mash, providing valuable data for future research in space-based fermentation.

Unlike heavier fruits such as grapes, rice is lightweight and practical for transport, making it an ideal choice for space agriculture. Dassai aims to use lunar resources, including water believed to exist on the Moon, to brew sake directly on the lunar surface.