ispace-EUROPE secures historic authorization for Lunar resource mission

ispace-EUROPE secures historic authorization for Lunar resource mission

by Erica Marchand

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 13, 2025

ispace-EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE), a Luxembourg-based leader in lunar exploration and space resource development, has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining the first mission authorization under Luxembourg’s 2017 Space Resources Law. This authorization enables the operation of the TENACIOUS Micro Rover during the upcoming Mission 2 by ispace, inc., which is slated for launch no earlier than mid-January 2025.

The authorization, granted by the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy, underscores Luxembourg’s role as a key player in advancing the global space economy. The TENACIOUS Micro Rover is set to perform crucial tasks on the lunar surface, including the collection and transfer of lunar regolith, fulfilling a 2020 contract between ispace-EUROPE and 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.”

Luxembourg’s 2017 Space Resources Law has established the legal foundation to support the commercial exploration and utilization of space resources. ispace-EUROPE’s successful authorization sets a precedent for similar endeavors in Europe and strengthens the country’s strategic role in the burgeoning space economy.

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.”

Heloise Vertadier, Legal Counsel for ispace-EUROPE, added: “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. 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, the TENACIOUS Micro Rover will collect regolith and gather critical data to support the mission’s objectives.

TENACIOUS Micro Rover Details

The TENACIOUS Micro Rover measures 26 cm in height, 31.5 cm in width, and 54 cm in length, with a weight of approximately 5 kg. It will be stored in the payload bay atop the RESILIENCE lander and deployed to the Moon’s surface using a specialized mechanism. Constructed from carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP), the rover is designed to endure the rigors of launch and transit.

Equipped with a forward-mounted HD camera, TENACIOUS can capture high-quality images of the lunar terrain. Its specially designed wheels enable stable movement across the lunar regolith, and mission control will communicate with the rover via the lander for commands and data transmission.

TENACIOUS was co-funded by the Luxembourg Space Agency through a European Space Agency contract under the LuxIMPULSE program.