Press Release
May 23, 2024
ispace, inc.

ispace and University of Leicester Collaborate onLunar Night Survival Technology
TOKYO – May 23, 2024 – ispace, inc. (ispace), a global lunar exploration company, and the
University of Leicester, have agreed to collaborate on approaches to lunar night survivability for
future ispace lunar lander and rover missions.
The University and ispace through ispace EUROPE S.A., have entered into a strategic consulting
agreement to explore lunar night survivability utilizing Radioisotope Heater Units on the Series 3
lunar lander and rovers. The University was awarded funding under Phase I and Phase II of theUK International Bilateral Fund to create mission concepts leveraging the technology on futuremissions.
The conditions on the lunar surface are extremely harsh with temperatures falling to minus 170
degrees Celsius during the two-week long lunar nights, when sunlight does not warm the surface.
To realize long-term missions, new technology and systems are required to survive the cryogenic
environment of lunar night.

(from Left) Dr.Hannah Sargeant, SPL/UoL, Ramy Mesalam, SPL/UoL, Sam Richards, ispace/Meridian SpaceCommand, Yoshiaki Nakaue, ispace, inc., Atsushi Saiki, Chief Revenue Officer ispace, inc.

The Space Nuclear Power group at the University of Leicester has been developing radioisotope
power systems for over a decade. These power systems use the heat generated from the decayof radioisotopes, and can be used to provide heat to spacecraft, or converted to electricity topower key subsystems. The technology development has been funded by the European Space
Agency (ESA) European Devices Using Radioisotope Energy (ENDURE) program, which has beenheavily supported by the UK Space Agency.
Project lead Dr. Hannah Sargeant from the University of Leicester School of Physics andAstronomy and Space Park Leicester said: “The radioisotope power technology that has beendeveloped at the University of Leicester, in conjunction with National Nuclear Laboratory, isperforming extremely well in our ongoing testing campaigns. In this project, we will be working
with ispace to investigate the feasibility of using radioisotope heater units to provide sufficientheat to spacecraft to endure the lunar night.
“The first phase of UKSA International Bilateral Funding was used to work with our international
partners to understand their power needs and mission priorities. In Phase 2, we will be
conducting both laboratory and concept studies to demonstrate the feasibility of the mission
concepts. It will also provide an opportunity to highlight the technology to the civil andcommercial space industry and show how it could be used to meet critical power needs forpriority missions.”“Our work with the University of Leicester to transport UK technologies to the Moon and test
their effectiveness against the lunar night is another example of the ispace’s unique capability.
This collaboration exemplifies the global nature of the cislunar economy, the importance of
academic institutions contributing to the vision, and the potential for great achievements,” said
Takeshi Hakamada, ispace Founder and CEO. “As lunar exploration continues to gain attention,
ispace, through our business entities around the world, is pleased to collaborate with globalorganizations to advance scientific understanding through transportation to lunar orbit and thelunar surface.”
ispace’s Japan entity is currently in an advanced design and development phase for the Series 3
lander with partial funding from a Japanese government Small Business Innovation & Research
grant through the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. In addition to the lunar Radioisotope
Heater Units, ispace is in discussions with a number of entities to transport payloads to lunar orbit
and the surface on future missions.
ispace is leveraging its global presence through its three business units in Japan, the U.S., andLuxembourg, for the simultaneous development of Mission 2, currently planned to be launchedin 2024, led by its Japanese entity, as well as Mission 3, currently planned to be launched in 2026
and led by its U.S. entity, and Mission 6, which will utilize the Series 3 lander and is scheduled tobe launched by 2027.
###About ispace, inc. (https://ispace-inc.com)
ispace, a global lunar exploration company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand ourfuture.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend thesphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, lowcost transportation services to the Moon. The company has business entities in Japan,
Luxembourg, and the United States with approximately 300 employees worldwide. For more
information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.
About the University of Leicester (https://le.ac.uk)
The University of Leicester is led by discovery and innovation – an international centre forexcellence renowned for research, teaching and broadening access to higher education. It isamong the Top 30 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE)’s Research Excellence
Framework (REF) 2021 rankings with 89% of research assessed as world-leading orinternationally excellent, with wide-ranging impacts on society, health, culture, and theenvironment. The University is home to more than 20,000 students and approximately 4,000 staff.
About Space Park Leicester (www.space-park.co.uk)
Space Park Leicester is a community at the forefront of the UK space sector, established througha partnership led by the University of Leicester. A world-leading cluster for innovative research,enterprise and education in space and Earth observation, Space Park Leicester represents acollaborative hub for industry and academia to develop and grow.
Opened in Spring 2022 by British European Space Agency astronaut Major Tim Peake, Space Park
Leicester provides state-of-the-art facilities for research, development, and manufacturing. It
houses capabilities and companies covering an end-to-end life-cycle, from satellite design andengineering, through to downstream data and its applications. This creates unmatched
opportunities for collaboration.
Explore Space Park Leicester partnerships, missions, residents, facilities, training programmes andinnovation products at: www.space-park.co.uk.
Follow us at @SpaceParkLeic #SpaceParkLeicester