[2] The concept builds on the original aerodynamic shape of HIMES (HIghly Maneuverable Experimental Sounding rocket) studied by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS, now part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in the 1980s.
[3][4] The team then launched WIRES 14 (50 kg and 1.5 m length) in order to establish the efficacy of the body structure and new recovery system.
[3][5] As of late 2018, the WIRES project is studying and developing the aerodynamics, navigation, guidance control, composite structure, propulsion system, and cryogenic tanks for test models.
[2] WIRES 13 is a sub-scale test rocket propelled by two IPA-LOX (isopropyl alcohol and liquid oxygen) engines generating a total combined thrust of 20 kN, that are under development by the University of Southern California (USC) to reach a target altitude of about 6 km (3.7 mi).
[2][6] If WIRES development is successful, the project engineers envision an additional application of the system as a suborbital crewed spaceplane for space tourism.
Koichi Yonemoto, who was responsible of the development at Kyushu Institute of Technology, co-founded a company Space Walker [ja] in 2017.