Exploring the Moon has long been a fascination for scientists and space enthusiasts alike. In a recent interview with Jenna Tiwana, we gain insight into the lunar exploration efforts of ispace, a company headquartered in Japan but with entities in Luxembourg and the US. Tiwana discusses the company’s partnerships and collaborations with various European organizations, particularly in the UK, and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the Moon as the next step in space exploration.
Europe, according to Tiwana, views the Moon as the “now” step, rather than a future endeavor. The goal is to accelerate the timeline and move forward with lunar exploration, aligning with the rest of the world’s focus on the Moon. Tiwana mentions that ispace is leveraging the UK’s strong international focus to partner with companies that currently lack access to the Moon or the necessary capabilities. By working with embassies, governments, and the private sector, ispace aims to establish sustainable and long-term lunar presence for countries like the UK.
One of the key aspects of lunar exploration is the potential for a lunar economy. Tiwana explains that ispace works with companies to help them understand how their products or services can have a place on the Moon. This includes materials used in non-space products, testing facilities, and even lunar insurance. The UK, with its rich heritage institutions and ongoing lunar progress, offers plenty of opportunities for innovation and commercialization. ispace aims to establish clear routes to the Moon and commercialization for UK companies, creating sustainable business cases for lunar exploration.
Tiwana also highlights the importance of government agencies in leading lunar development. The UK government’s focus, along with organizations like ESA and NASA, signals a demand for lunar activities. This pull from the government helps stimulate solutions and advancements in communication and navigation (comms and Nav). Tiwana believes that an Earthside lunar community is developing, where companies from around the world work closely together towards a shared vision. ispace, with its diverse team and international presence, fosters a collaborative environment that encourages cultural and technical expertise exchange.
The interview also touches upon ispace’s recent mission, M1, which unfortunately did not succeed. Tiwana acknowledges the challenges and risks of space exploration but emphasizes the support and positive messages received from customers, competitors, partners, and agencies. The experience gained from M1 has instilled more confidence in ispace as a space company, and they are determined to learn from their first mission and make the next one successful.
Overall, the interview with Jenna Tiwana provides a glimpse into ispace’s lunar exploration efforts and their collaborations with European and UK organizations. The focus on accelerating lunar exploration, establishing a lunar economy, and fostering international collaboration paints an exciting picture of the future of lunar exploration. With companies like ispace leading the way, humanity’s presence on the Moon may become more than just a dream.
