Lunar exploration company, ispace, and the University of Leicester have signed a Payload Service Agreement to deliver a Raman analytical spectroscopy instrument to the lunar surface on a future ispace mission.
The instrument was adapted from the original laser-based spectrometer developed for the ExoMars mission, and will be delivered by the University of Leicester, in collaboration with INTA of Madrid, the University of Aberdeen, RAL Space, and the University of Valladolid.
The instrument will analyse the lunar surface to determine its molecular composition and identify resources that could support future human exploration missions. It is designed for integration with commercial small lunar landers and rovers that will explore the Moon’s surface in support of future space resource utilisation.
The Raman Spectrometer project is funded under the UK Space Agency (UKSA) Science and Exploration Bilateral Fund and represents a key step in advancing scientific instrumentation for in-situ lunar analysis. Under the agreement, ispace will provide payload transportation services through its Japanese entity aboard a future mission using its newly introduced ULTRA lunar lander. The specific mission assignment has not yet been determined.
Building upon the heritage of lunar lander’s used for ispace’s two previous lunar missions, ULTRA is based on the outstanding technologies developed by its entities in Japan and the United States. The larger lander is expected to deliver even higher quality to meet growing customers’ demands in the fast-growing market.
To enable effective surface analysis, the Raman spectrometer must operate in very close proximity to, or in direct contact with, the lunar regolith. To achieve this, ispace and the University of Leicester are jointly developing a deployment mechanism that will allow the instrument to be positioned precisely on the lunar surface, supporting both lander- and rover-based operations.
Collaboration between ispace and the University of Leicester has been ongoing for several years.
“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with the University of Leicester through this Payload Service Agreement. By combining the University of Leicester’s expertise in Raman spectroscopy with ispace’s lunar transportation and surface mobility capabilities, we are helping lay the groundwork for future missions focused on understanding and utilising lunar resources,” said Takeshi Hakamada, ispace Founder & CEO.
