TOKYO –December 10, 2024 – ispace, inc. (ispace) (TOKYO: 9348), a global lunar exploration company, and Magna Petra, the first lunar resources company engaged in the prospecting, extraction and return to earth of helium-3 isotopes from the lunar surface, have agreed to collaborate on future missions to the lunar surface, the two companies announced.

Under terms of the memorandum of understanding, the two companies have agreed to collaborate on the development of a lunar economy that provides terrestrial economic value via non-destructive, sustainable harvesting of lunar surface resources.

“We are delighted and honored to be collaborating with ispace on this important initiative,” said Jeffrey Max, Magna Petra’s CEO. “These missions require a cislunar transportation and lunar infrastructure partner with proven competencies, agility and strong leadership. The ispace teams’ strong track record of innovation and performance, along with a global footprint are the perfect fit for Magna Petra’s critical mission requirements.”

“We are pleased to cooperate with Magna Petra to transport their technology to the Moon,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “The cislunar economy will be dependent on many important resources other than water, and it is important to work to make use of these resources. ispace will continue to support the goals of various companies and organizations necessary for the development of the new economy.”

Magna Petra’s patent pending technology promises energy efficient isotope extraction and collection with minimal impact to the lunar surface. Using advanced AI for lunar isotope modeling, NASA-developed instrumentation for yield density validation, and cutting-edge technologies for isotope isolation, Magna Petra’s upcoming reconnaissance and collection missions place the Company on a rapid timeline to validate, capture and return commercial quantities of isotopes from the lunar surface, addressing critical material supply chain shortages on earth.

ispace is leveraging its global presence through its three business units in Japan, the U.S., and Luxembourg, for the simultaneous development of upcoming missions. Mission 2, featuring the RESILIENCE lunar lander, is led by ispace Japan and is now scheduled for launch no earlier than January 2025. In this mission, TENACIOUS micro rover developed by ispace Europe SA to be deployed on the lunar surface to conduct technological demonstration of regolith extraction as well as mobility on the lunar surface Mission 3, debuting the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026. Mission 6, which will utilize the Series 3 lander, currently being designed in Japan, is scheduled to be launched by 2027.

About Magna Petra

Magna Petra (“MP”) is at the forefront of unlocking lunar resources for terrestrial benefit, with a primary focus on mining Helium-3 (“he-3”) from the lunar surface. With a worsening and unresolved supply crisis of he-3[1], coupled with its critical applications in national security, medical imaging, quantum computing, and nuclear fusion energy, MP intends to be a pivotal player in the global energy supply chain. Leveraging proprietary AI tools for isotope simulation and operations optimization, proprietary technology for lunar isotope extraction, established partnerships, a strategic plan for operational scalability, and an experienced leadership team, MP’s scheduled missions will affirm the Company’s position as the leading supplier of rare lunar isotopes for critical terrestrial applications. For more information, visit: www.magnapetra.com

About ispace, inc.

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.

Source: ispace

We have installed and activated our second optical telescope, located in Chile, to expand satellite tracking coverage over the southern hemisphere. This complements our existing telescope installed at the Beja air base in Portugal, enabling satellite tracking coverage over both hemispheres through our own telescopes, in addition to data from partner networks.

Capable of acquiring more than one image per second for low orbits and tracking objects as small as 10 cm in diameter, our telescopes rank among the world’s most advanced for astrometric and photometric data acquisition in low Earth orbit (LEO). This precision reduces the uncertainty level for positional errors to less than 100 meters within a single orbital revolution, meeting the 2023 ESA Space Debris Mitigation Requirement.

Both telescopes also support agile horizon-to-horizon multi-orbit tracking, allowing rapid target switching. They produce measurements ranging from a few seconds to tens of minutes, enabling scalable data acquisition for multiple purposes such as collision avoidance, debris tracking, pattern-of-life analysis, and Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), among others.

Due to its location in a region with a high number of clear nights per year, the telescope in Chile is expected to be even more productive than the one in Beja. The Beja telescope has already produced more than 300,000 measurements of space objects in orbits from LEO to GEO within the first three months of operations.

This latest addition strenghthens the satellite tracking and analysis capabilities of our Space Traffic Management Platform, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for advanced data analysis. Through this platform, we already provide services such as conjunction monitoring and collision avoidance to over 400 satellites. The new telescope will improve the timeliness and accuracy of these services, enabling safer and more efficient spacecraft operations.

The objective of this investment, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) with a total budget of 25 million euros, is to enhance the safety and sustainability of airspace by providing complementary services to all companies operating in space. As part of this effort, the AI Fights Space Debris project (C626449889-00463050) is included in the Mobilising Agenda/Alliances for Reindustrialisation, further supporting advancements in safe space operations and sustainability.

Chiara Manfletti, CEO of Neuraspace, said: “This investment consolidates Neuraspace as a global leader in space traffic management. We already excel at creating value from data with AI. Now we're also getting the best possible data with our strategy of fusing data from different sources with our own. With this expansion of our infrastructure, we are redefining the standards of safety and efficiency in space operations worldwide."

About Neuraspace

Established in 2020, Neuraspace is a European-born company that provides solutions and services to make space safe, secure, and sustainable. We offer real-time automated space traffic management, routine space mission support software and resilient mission design, focusing on sustainability. We leverage new-age technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to process data, automate processes, and offer valuable insights. Our SaaS platform facilitates coordination among satellite operators, while our Data as a Service product offers comprehensive space situational awareness. Neuraspace has raised 2.5 million euros from Armilar Venture Partners and a further 25 million euros for sensor infrastructure and its growth strategy with the support of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and NextGeneration EU Funds. These telescopes are also part of the AI Fights Space Debris project, a consortium led by Neuraspace and collaboration with Instituto Pedro Nunes, GMVIS Skysoft, University of Coimbra, Instituto Superior Técnico, and Nova University of Lisbon.

Source: Neuraspace

December 4, 2024 – Umbra, a vertically integrated space technology company operating the world’s highest-resolution commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, has been awarded the Stage III option of the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) Commercial Radar Capabilities contract. This contract, part of the NRO’s Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) initiative, evaluates and leverages innovative commercial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions to strengthen the U.S. Government’s overhead intelligence architecture.

Building on the success of Stage II, Stage III emphasizes scaling SAR data delivery to the U.S. Government to meet critical needs such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and crisis management. Umbra’s advancement follows the successful validation of its on-orbit performance and mission utility in earlier stages, positioning the company to further integrate domestic SAR capabilities into the wider U.S. Government’s ISR framework.

“Advancing to Stage III marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Umbra’s SAR capabilities,” said Omar Wheatley, Director, Strategic Programs. “We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with the NRO and continue delivering our industry-leading high-quality SAR data that strengthens the nation’s intelligence and defense capabilities.”

Umbra’s SAR satellites collect up to five times more data than other providers, offering unprecedented value through both quantity and affordability. “As a fully American company, we’re proud to maximize taxpayer value by delivering the most data and the best data to the NRO at the lowest cost,” said David Langan, CEO of Umbra. Umbra has a long-standing relationship with the NRO, having previously been selected for the Stage II option of its Commercial Radar Capabilities contract in late 2022, and a second Stage II option under the Commercial RF Capabilities focus area in early 2024.

Earlier this month, the 2024 Commercial Remote Sensing Global Rankings named Umbra first in SAR data quality worldwide and second in SAR persistence. Since its establishment in 2015, Umbra has emerged as a leader in remote sensing, offering breakthrough SAR imaging technology and patented satellite solutions that provide all-weather, day-and-night monitoring. Umbra continues to set new standards in reliability, precision, and intelligence gathering, helping government and commercial customers alike achieve mission success.

About Umbra

Umbra is a vertically integrated space technology company providing satellite technology solutions and intelligence data as a service to commercial and government customers. Our cutting-edge products help customers solve complex business, environmental, and security challenges. Umbra is founded, funded, built and operated in the USA with headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, and has a presence in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Source: Umbra

Madrid (Spain), 2 December 2024. PLD Space, a Spanish company specializing in the development of reusable space launchers, has secured an €11 million loan from COFIDES to support the development of the launch site for its MIURA 5 rocket in Kourou, French Guiana. The company will initially invest a total of €16 million in the development, construction, and operation of this launch base, located at the CSG—Europe's spaceport in Kourou—operated by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The project has received financial backing from COFIDES through a co-investment loan from the Fund for Foreign Investment (FIEX), which supports Spanish companies in their international expansion strategies.

This funding bolsters PLD Space's mission to ensure autonomous and competitive European access to space while strengthening Europe's space infrastructure. The company’s service portfolio spans the full spectrum of launch needs, from small satellites to payloads of up to 50 tonnes, through its MIURA rocket family. From 2030, PLD Space also plans to pioneer human missions with LINCE, Europe’s first commercial manned capsule. The project was formalised at COFIDES headquarters in the presence of the Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla.

Following the signing of the financing agreement, Ezequiel Sánchez, PLD Space Executive President, expressed gratitude for COFIDES' support, stating, "We appreciate COFIDES' confidence in PLD Space. Our mission is to provide Europe with a comprehensive payload launch capability, and this support inspires us to continue driving European space sovereignty while strengthening its strategic space infrastructure."

Amparo López Senovilla highlighted that "This initiative exemplifies the critical role of public-private collaboration in supporting strategic and innovative projects, which rely on institutional backing as an anchor investor during the early stages of technological development. This project underscores COFIDES' position as a leading institution in managing public funds to support Spanish companies' international investment ventures."

Ángela Pérez, COFIDES Chairperson, emphasized that "COFIDES is committed to supporting companies that contribute to global technological transformation. PLD Space is a pioneer and a benchmark in Europe in the development of reusable rockets, and this collaboration reaffirms our commitment to innovation and the consolidation of European technological leadership." She also thanked the Secretary of State for Trade for attending the formalization of this project.

This loan complements PLD Space's planned investment in the MIURA 5 launch complex at CSG, where the company has 15,765 square metres dedicated to flight campaigns for its orbital launcher. The facilities are divided into three key areas: the launch pad, preparation area, and control centre. The first MIURA 5 flight campaign is scheduled to commence in late 2025.

As part of its commitment to the local community, PLD Space will initially create over 10 direct jobs and 50 indirect jobs in Kourou, with these numbers expected to grow as launch frequency increases. Additionally, the company plans to collaborate with regional industrial suppliers to establish a robust local supply chain.

For this transaction, Deloitte served as an advisor to PLD Space and COFIDES, with KPMG providing financial advisory services and Hogan Lovells acting as legal counsel.

About PLD Space

PLD Space is a pioneering Spanish aerospace company and a benchmark reference in Europe for developing reusable rockets. With a solid reputation and steadfast commitment that is materialised in its family of MIURA launch vehicles and its manned capsule LINCE. These innovations position Spain among the select few nations capable of successfully deploying any payload into space. PLD Space was founded in 2011 by Raúl Torres and Raúl Verdú with the aim of facilitating access to space. The company, based in Elche (Spain) and with technical facilities in Teruel (Spain) and Kourou (French Guiana), has a team of more than 250 professionals and 170 million euros in funding to date.

Source: PLD Space