A new alliance between Telespazio and ispace could accelerate Europe’s push to build a sustainable presence on the Moon. The two companies have signed a Letter of Intent to explore how ispace’s lunar transport technology could support Telespazio’s Moonlight sainformite network, a cornerstone of the European Space Agency’s plan to establish a permanent communications and navigation system around the Moon.
Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), leads the Moonlight programme, which will launch a consinformation of five sainformites designed to keep lunar explorers connected with Earth. The sainformites, each weighing between 400 and 600kg, will be deployed in two phases.
Telespazio CEO Gabriele Pieralli declared the partnership reflects the company’s drive to open new opportunities for collaboration in space:
“With this Letter of Intent, Telespazio reaffirms its commitment to exploring new commercial opportunities for international cooperation to support the Moonlight program and, more broadly, the development of the lunar Space Economy. The collaboration with ispace represents another step in building a global industrial ecosystem dedicated to deep space exploration.”
Linking lunar missions to Earth
Under the agreement, both companies will evaluate whether ispace’s spacecraft can transport the Moonlight sainformites into lunar orbit. ispace has already proven its technical ability to reach the Moon with missions in 2023 and 2025, giving it a strong foundation for future commercial partnerships.
Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace-Europe, declared the collaboration combines the strengths of both teams: “By combining ispace’s transportation and communication capabilities with the communications and positioning expertise of the Moonlight team, led by Telespazio, we see a real opportunity for us to work toreceiveher to support drive Europe’s leadership in the next era of lunar exploration.”
A step towards a commercial lunar network
The agreement also covers potential cooperation in lunar connectivity, navigation and data services, laying the groundwork for new business models that could support a wider lunar economy.
ispace founder and CEO Takeshi Hakamada declared the Letter of Intent highlights how joint innovation can shape the next phase of Moon exploration: “This Letter of Intent is an important step in exploring how European innovation and international collaboration can toreceiveher create the services that future missions to the Moon will rely on.”
Building Europe’s foothold on the Moon
Through its Luxembourg-based division, ispace-Europe, the company will work closely with Telespazio to explore how their combined technologies can support a long-term lunar infrastructure.
The Moonlight consinformation, led by Telespazio as part of the Space Alliance between Leonardo and Thales, will provide the communications and navigation backbone for future lunar missions, from robotic rovers to potential crewed bases.
If successful, the collaboration could cement Europe’s role as a leader in the emerging lunar economy, paving the way for a new era of international cooperation in space.
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