A New Leap in Lunar Exploration

In a groundbreaking announcement at the 40th Space Symposium, ispace technologies U.S., Inc. (ispace-U.S.) and Zeno Power Systems, Inc. revealed an ambitious collaboration to develop innovative power systems aimed at overcoming one of humanity's most daunting challenges in space exploration: surviving the Moon's prolonged nights.

Facing the Moon's Harsh Reality

NASA has long acknowledged the lunar night as a critical hurdle for any plans to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. With surface temperatures plunging to a staggering -173°C (-280°F) for 14 consecutive Earth days and total darkness, conventional solar and battery systems simply won't cut it for extended missions.

Forging the Future with Radioisotope Power

In response to this pressing issue, ispace-U.S. and Zeno Power have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), focusing on integrating Zeno Power's groundbreaking radioisotope power systems (RPS) into future lunar missions. These RPS units promise to provide continuous heat and electricity without relying on solar energy, offering a robust solution for thriving in the Moon's dark and desolate conditions.

CEO Perspectives: Pioneering the Path Forward

Elizabeth Kryst, CEO of ispace-U.S., expressed her enthusiasm about this collaboration, saying, "We're excited to tackle one of the most critical challenges for lunar exploration—power during the lunar night. Zeno Power's advanced technology will be crucial for maintaining operations in even the harshest conditions, ensuring our missions can succeed and lay the groundwork for long-term lunar exploration."

Tyler Bernstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeno Power, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, "Powering through the lunar night is essential for establishing a sustained human and robotic presence on the Moon. Our collaboration with ispace-U.S. will create power systems that not only help missions survive, but enable them to thrive in darkness."

Upcoming Missions: A New Era of Exploration

The excitement doesn't stop there. This announcement coincides with ispace's rapid development across its international divisions. The company recently launched Mission 2 with ispace Japan on January 15, 2025, which successfully completed a lunar flyby and is currently en route to the Moon. This mission aims to deploy the TENACIOUS micro rover to explore regolith extraction and surface mobility technologies. Looking ahead, Mission 3 is anticipated in 2026, introducing the APEX 1.0 lander, while a fourth mission utilizing the Series 3 lander, designed in Japan, is set to launch in 2027.