Japanese lunar exploration company ispace has signed a payload service agreement with the University of Leicester worth GBP 3 million to transport a Raman spectrometer to the Moons surface.
The instrument, adapted from a laser-based spectrometer originally developed for the ExoMars mission, will analyze lunar regolith to determine its molecular composition and identify potential resources for future human exploration. The payload involves collaboration with INTA in Madrid, the University of Aberdeen, RAL Space, and the University of Valladolid.
Under the agreement, ispaces Japanese entity will provide transportation services using its ULTRA lunar lander on a future mission, though the specific assignment remains undetermined. The partnership evolved from a letter of support in 2022 and an initial payload service agreement in 2024.
ispace approved the deal through a board resolution on March 31, 2026, with the contract executed the same day. The announcement came on May 13, 2026.
This follows ispaces separate agreement with Koreas Unmanned Exploration Laboratory to carry a two-wheeled rover on its Mission 3 ULTRA lander, scheduled for 2028.