ISpace Europe and CDS sign payload service agreement to transfer technology for lunar positioning

The agreement represents an important step towards Romania's first lunar mission

ispace EUROPE SA (ispace-EUROPE), a subsidiary of ispace, Inc. Headquartered in Luxembourg. Control Data Systems SRL (CDS) has concluded a payload service agreement to transport precise position measurement equipment to the Moon. Both companies announced this.

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Julien Lamy, CEO of ispace-Europe and Ovidiu Ratiu, Founder and CEO of CDS at a meeting in Luxembourg. (Photo: Business Wire)

CDS technology, which combines precise positioning and communications, uses ultra-wideband for precise positioning. It was developed specifically for space applications with support from the European Space Agency. The lack of a GPS-like system on the Moon makes this technology a leading application for future lunar exploration.

This agreement between the two companies represents the first joint step towards contributing to the understanding of the Moon for potential future commercial purposes. It is also the first payload placed by a Romanian company on the moon's surface. This technology will be integrated into the APEX 1.0 lunar lander as part of the ispace Technologies US (ispace-US) 3 mission, currently scheduled for 2026. A lunar module will transport a CDS device to the surface to test the localization technology using an antenna that will remain on the APEX 1.0 lander.

“ispace provides companies here in Europe and around the world with access to the lunar surface so they can demonstrate and test their technologies,” said Julien Lamy, CEO of ispace-EUROPE. “We are proud to provide transportation and services to CDS so that the first Romanian commercial mission to the Moon can be carried out.”

“CDS is developing communications and positioning technologies that are critical to the future of lunar exploration,” said Ovidiu Ratio, founder and CEO of CDS. “Through our collaboration with ispace, we have the opportunity to establish our technology for future missions.”

This payload services agreement is the result of cooperation pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding announced by ispace and CDS on March 1, 2024.

About iSpace https://ispace-inc.com

ispace is a global lunar exploration company with a vision of “Expand our planet. Expand our future.” It specializes in the design and construction of lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to enable human life on the moon and create a sustainable world through high-frequency, low-cost transportation to the moon. The company has offices in Japan, Luxembourg and the United States and employs approximately 300 people worldwide. For more information, visit: www.ispace-inc.com and follow us on X: @ispace_inc.

About CDS https://www.cds.ro/

Control Data Systems SRL (CDS) was founded in 1994 as a privately held technology company. Its headquarters are located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. CDS develops wireless products and technologies for industrial applications in areas such as aviation, oil and gas, and environmental monitoring. CDS, with financial support from ESA, has successfully implemented some research projects such as wireless applications for AIT satellite operations and development of a wireless communications carrier for satellite applications.

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Andrew C. Ames

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