8 Jan, 2025
License Allows TENACIOUS Micro Rover to Operate on the Lunar Surface during Mission 2
LUXEMBOURG – January 8, 2025 – ispace-EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE), a lunar exploration and resources development company based in Luxembourg, has obtained a mission authorization under the 2017 Luxembourg Space Resources Law to operate the TENACIOUS Micro Rover during the upcoming ispace, inc. (ispace), Mission 2. The approval for the micro rover’s operations, scheduled for launch no earlier than mid-January 2025, marks a historic milestone as the first authorization granted in Europe to enable the commercial utilization of space resources.
The approval, issued by the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy, positions ispace-EUROPE as a global leader in space resource commercialization and affirms Luxembourg’s pivotal role in fostering innovation in the space economy. The TENACIOUS Micro Rover, designed for lunar exploration and resource utilization, will execute key operations, including the collection and transfer of ownership of lunar regolith for ispace-EUROPE to execute a 2020 regolith contract signed with NASA.
“This authorization marks a historic moment for space exploration in Europe, as it is the first of its kind to enable commercial space resource activities. Missions like ours depend not only on technical capabilities, but they also require a strong legal framework to guide, support, and authorize commercial operations in space,” said Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace-EUROPE. “We are grateful for the support of the Luxembourg government, whose forward-thinking policies and commitment to the space sector have been critical in enabling ispace’s lunar ambitions. With Tenacious, we are taking another step toward realizing the potential of the cislunar economy and advancing our vision for lunar exploration.”
The 2017 Luxembourg Space Resources Law provides the legal framework necessary to support the commercial exploration and utilization of space resources which plays a key part of Luxembourg’s space economy strategy. By securing this authorization, ispace-Europe not only advances Mission 2’s objectives but also sets a precedent for future commercial space resource activities within Europe.
Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, commented: “The authorization not only marks a historic step toward enabling the potential of the cislunar economy, but it is also a testament to Luxembourg’s role as a pioneer in defining the legal and regulatory frameworks necessary to enable the commercial space economy.”
“This authorization demonstrates how we at ispace-EUROPE are turning the vision of space resource regulation into the practical reality of commercial activity. This milestone also reflects a truly collaborative effort both internally – with close coordination between our legal and technical teams – and externally, thanks to the guidance of the Luxembourg Space Agency and the Luxembourg government,” said Heloise Vertadier, Legal Counsel for ispace-EUROPE. “The authorization highlights how effective partnerships between the space industry and regulators can shape the future of international space law and be an enabler for achieving our ambitions in space exploration and resources utilization.”
Once deployed on the lunar surface from the RESILIENCE lunar lander, ispace-EUROPE will operate the TENACIOUS micro rover to collect regolith and other important data for the remainder of the mission on the Moon.
TENACIOUS Micro Rover
The TENACIOUS micro rover is 26 cm tall, 31.5 cm wide, 54 cm long, and weighs approximately 5 kg. It will be stored in the payload bay at the top of the lander and will use a deployment mechanism to land on the Moon’s surface after touch down. It is designed to be lightweight with a frame made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) to withstand the rocket launch and other vibrations during transit to the lunar surface.
The rover is equipped with a forward-mounted HD camera that can capture images on the lunar surface. The wheels are shaped in such a way so that the rover can traverse lunar regolith in a stable manner. Commands and data will be sent and received from the mission control center via the lander.
TENACIOUS was developed with co-funding from the Luxembourg Space Agency through a European Space Agency contract with the Luxembourg National Space Programme, LuxIMPULSE.
About ispace-EUROPE
ispace-EUROPE, a lunar exploration and resource development company based in Luxembourg, focuses on the development of lunar rovers. It is responsible for the first-ever European designed, manufactured, and assembled lunar rover. With its world-class talent, robotics capabilities, and connections to the Luxembourg ecosystem, ispace-Europe is uniquely positioned to accelerate the creation of a lunar industry in Europe and serve the needs of the growing institutional and commercial customers.
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.