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
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.
