The micro rover will be equipped with Epiroc’s Lunar scoop, which has an operating mass capacity of 300 grams. The scoop, manufactured with advanced materials, was 3D printed.
October 29, 2024
International lunar transportation and exploration company ispace – which has won two out of four of the world’s first Space resources collection contracts with NASA – and Epiroc have entered a long-term collaboration partnership. The companies will develop technologies and commercial services for NASA’s Lunar Resources Utilization and Lunar Construction initiatives.
The first joint activity between ispace and Epiroc revolves around ispace’s M2 mission, where ispace’s micro rover – equipped with Epiroc’s scoop, or regolith collection system – is scheduled to be operational on the Lunar surface after successful landing. The micro rover is to be delivered by ispace’s Resilience Lunar lander, which will be delivered by a rocket into space before it begins its journey to the Moon.
To succeed in sharing each other’s knowledge, the companies are building a relationship based on trust, understanding, and technical expertise. Miriam Bergvall, Global Manager of Acquisitions & Partnerships at Epiroc, and Carlos Espejel, Space Resources Utilization (SRU) Lead at ispace Europe, explain how this is made possible.
"Expertise, trust and communication are the keys to a strong partnership"
Carlos Espejel, Space Resources Utilization Lead, ispace
What sparked the partnership?
CARLOS ESPEJEL: “We’ve had our eyes on Epiroc for quite some time, having identified them as one of the best companies in drilling for the mining industry, underground extraction, and materials handling on Earth. In the long-term, these are activities and technologies that we are planning to perform and use on the Moon for resource exploration and eventual extraction.”
MIRIAM BERGVALL: “This opportunity represents Epiroc’s core values, which was the main reason for us entering a partnership with ispace. Their experience, knowledge, and NASA contracts also assured us they were the right partner to collaborate with. Initially, it sounded unreal, and it took some time to convince the organization that it was happening. Epiroc is going to the Moon!”
What are the similarities between working with equipment for underground conditions on Earth and conditions on the Moon?
CE: “There are a lot of similarities – but also new challenges. Firstly, temperatures on the Moon are extreme; near the equator, the temperature can range from 120 degrees Celsius to around –133. Similarly, underground operations can also face extreme temperatures. On the Lunar surface, there is an almost nonexistent atmosphere, which requires electrical systems, among others, similar to the ones used for underground mining. Also, there is no GPS signal underground, which, of course, is the case on the Moon as well.”
What have you learned from each other so far?
CE: “For instance, we were not completely aware of the stresses and forces involved on the Lunar rover when you operate a scoop – up, down, forward, and so on – as well as the visibility aspects of the operating camera used to operate the scoop remotely from Earth. Thanks to the support and requirements of Epiroc’s team, we redesigned an entire rover face, optimizing scoop and camera placement to match the tight field of view and volume requirements.”
MB: “Even though our equipment is often operated in harsh conditions, the Moon is different. On the Moon, it is extremely harsh, with extreme temperatures, high radiation levels, and a lack of atmosphere. Thanks to ispace, we have learned a lot about Moon conditions and how to develop a specialized product that can withstand this environment.”
Miriam Bergvall, Global Manager Acquisitions & Partnerships, Epiroc
The scoop will collect regolith from the surface of the Moon for historical NASA resource contracts. Can you elaborate a little on the design and development process?
CE: “We gave Epiroc strict requirements and restrictions regarding the scoop design and capabilities within the mechanical, thermal, and electrical domains. Very impressively, they achieved all requirements and more for the Lunar scoop.”
MB: “The right weight and size were crucial. Our project team did a great job designing and developing the scoop to be very light and small yet robust enough to endure the harsh environment. In addition to the scoop, we have also designed and developed the electronics and software to control it. Both design and coding have been kept simple to reduce risk. We only get one chance, so our solution has to be perfect.”
What’s the secret to the strong relationship between ispace and Epiroc?
CE: “Firstly, our companies share similar working cultures and values, such as trust, respect, transparency, and proof by action. This made for a great match and was a deciding factor when developing the partnership. Miriam and I have meetings every second week, and the engineers even more often. We have high trust, communication, and space ambitions.”
MB: “I completely agree, Carlos. Both the technical and commercial teams have worked closely to accomplish this joint project. Despite not being in the same room as the ispace team for most of the time, our relationship has developed into a fruitful and long-term partnership.”
What’s your prediction on future space mining?
CE: “In the next twenty years, I can see us bringing larger or even full-size machines for exploration, mining and infrastructure on the Moon once larger landers are developed and Space X’s Starship is fully operational.”
MB: “Space mining in some form is going to happen, but some challenges need to be overcome first. Some examples are the cost of transporting mining equipment to the moon, establishing an infrastructure and maintaining the equipment with or without limited human support. It is an exciting journey, and I believe partnerships and consortiums between governmental, space, and commercial companies are crucial to making it happen.”
In focus: ispace
Private Lunar exploration company with a vision to extend human presence on the Moon and support sustainable human life on Earth. The company’s next mission (M2) will launch as soon as Q4 2024 and be operational on the Moon in early 2025. Its task is to collect Lunar regolith for NASA’s historical Space Resources contracts.
• 300 employees
• Founded in 2010 in Tokyo, Japan, where the headquarters are based
• Additional offices in the US and Luxembourg
