8 Nov, 2024
TOKYO – November 8, 2024–ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the Kingdom of Thailand’s national space agency, and mu Space and Advanced Technology Co., Ltd (mu Space) a Thai satellite and communication services company, have reached a collaboration agreement to study the potential for a lunar exploration program within the framework of Thailand’s “National Space Experiment and Exploration” program.
Photo taken at the signing ceremony held at Thailand Space Week 2024. Second from left, mu Space CEO & Director James Yenbamroong, GISTDA Director Dr. Pakorn Apaphan, and ispace Executive Fellow Atsushi Saiki display the signed agreement.
The National Space Experiment and Exploration program is a framework for implementing space exploration missions led by the Thai government, and by signing the memorandum of understanding, the three organizations will work together on research and development, human resource development, as well as knowledge transfer related to space technology, to implement a lunar exploration mission within the program.
“I am pleased to announce the signing of the memorandum of understanding with mu Space and ispace today. This partnership is significant in that it brings together Japan’s leading space exploration technology and Thailand’s active space technology startup,” said Dr. Pakorn Apaphan, Director of GISTDA. Thailand is still in the early stages of space exploration, but this collaboration will help us to make great strides forward. In addition, since space exploration will play an important role in the medium-term space road map promoted by the government, we also expect future investment and continued collaboration.
“I am very pleased to conclude an agreement with a Thailand’s national space agency and mu Space to realize a future new lunar exploration program. I hope that this will become a new bridge between Japan and Thailand for further strengthen of relations between the two companies,” said Atsushi Saiki, Executive Fellow, ispace.
”We are thrilled to embark on this collaboration with GISTDA and ispace which will lead the development of Thai national lunar program,” said James Yenbamroong, CEO & Director of mu Space. “We believe this will be regarded as a precedent of international Public-Private Partnership between Thailand and Japan in space sector. This collaboration will help mu Space realize the mission to go to moon.”
The announcement was made at the Thailand Space Week 2024, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, to Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, during the signing ceremony with Dr. Pakorn Apaphan, Executive Director of GISTDA, James Yenbamroong, CEO & Director of mu Space, and Atsushi Saiki, Executive Fellow of ispace.
About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)
ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with more than 300 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.