12 Sep, 2025
Agreement Outlines Global University Competition to Develop the Next Generation of Space Explorers
Tokyo–September 12, 2025 – ispace, inc., a global lunar exploration company and Orbital Space Satellite Services, LLC, a space development company based in the United Arab Emirates, have agreed to a mutual strategic cooperation to jointly promote and implement educational lunar missions involving student-developed payloads.
Based on the memorandum of understanding, Orbital Space will plan, operate, and promote a global competition for university students to lead a mission to the Moon. ispace will provide technical evaluations of mission payloads entered in the competition as well as transportation services to the Moon for selected payloads. To pay for the costs of the transportation, Orbital Services will seek funding for the mission. Through the collaboration, both companies aim to contribute to the advancement of the lunar exploration and the development of the next generation of space talent.
The United Arab Emirates has positioned space exploration as one of the pillars of its national space strategy, promoting talent development and the expansion of its industrial base through international cooperation. In particular, education and talent development for the younger generation is one of the leading priorities in its long-term space policy. The initiative between Orbital Space and ispace aligns with the UAE’s vision and supports the development of future engineers and scientists by providing students worldwide with practical space development experience.
Statement of Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace
“ispace has built a deep, cooperative relationship with the UAE, including collaborating with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to transport the Rashid rover on Mission 1 in 2023,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “We are very pleased that this agreement enables us to expand our collaboration with Orbital Space in the UAE. We look forward to contributing to the next generation of space talent through promotion of student-led lunar exploration missions.”
Satement of Dr. Bassam Alfeeli, General Manager of Orbital Space
“Through our collaboration with ispace, we aim to bring the Moon closer to students in the UAE and around the world,” said Dr. Bassam Alfeeli, General Manager of Orbital Space. “They will gain opportunities to design and demonstrate scientific experiments on the lunar surface, transcending the confines of the classroom. This initiative is part of Orbital Space’s vision to realize a future where ‘access to space is available to everyone.’”
Orbital Space and ispace are expected to undertake joint efforts to promote the program and future lunar missions with further details being released soon.
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.
About Orbital Space Satellite Services, LLC (https://www.orbital-space.com/)
Orbital Space is a space education company based in the United Arab Emirates. It focuses on providing real space-related opportunities for students and young professionals. Specializing in educational space missions and educational technology development, Orbital Space is at the forefront of private space exploration in the Arab Gulf region. Collaborating with public and private partners both within and beyond the region, Orbital Space strives to realize a future where space is accessible to everyone. You can follow Orbital Space on Instagram: @orbital.space