NEUROSPACE hands over Satellite to NASA

With the successful handover of TACHELES, the pathway to participating in Artemis II is cleared.

OnSeptember 16, NEUROSPACE GmbH successfully handed over the TACHELES satellite to NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. The Berlin-based NewSpace startup was selected in Januar 2024 to contribute to the mission.

NASA’s multi-level Artemis campaign aims to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, with both international and private-sector partners supporting its technological and scientific development. NEUROSPACE contributes to this effort with its core product, the HiveR Rover. To test the rover’s performance in space, TACHELES was developed as a 12U CubeSat carrying the rover’s electronics. For context, 1U refers to a CubeSat unit measuring roughly 10 × 10 × 10 cm; the 12U format allows for more complex systems while following standardized CubeSat dimensions.

During the mission, the 12 U CubeSat TACHELES will be transported into Earth orbit with an apogee radius of approximately 77, 700 km, placing it within the region of one of the Van Allen belts, a critical radiation zone. There, the impact of radiation on rover electronics, including single event effects on EEE (electrical, electronic and electromechanical) components, and their resilience to radiation and high temperature ranges, as well as longevity and reliability, will be tested. During the lifetime of the TACHELES mission, approximately 2,5 years, the CubeSat will perform its experiments and send the collected data to the ground station. The satellite will be placed in a highly elliptical orbit. A one-day operational lifespan is expected, during which it will collect sufficient data. The orbit—and thus the short lifespan—is specified by NASA to ensure that no space debris is created in the event of a malfunction. However, NEUROSPACE is attempting to extend the satellite’s operational life—from a few days up to 2.5 years—through a targeted maneuver of its propulsion system. This is a complex and unique maneuver that will only be carried out if it poses no risk to the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Artemis II is the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17, and TACHELES marks the first time a German NewSpace startup is participating in such a mission. The project supports international cooperation within the expanding German and European space industry as part of the global Moon programme. Its innovation and data collection contribute to the advancement of CubeSat standards, rover technology, and other space applications. NEUROSPACE illustrates how a small NewSpace startup can contribute to an international lunar mission. The insights and experiences gained will be shared to assist other organizations pursuing similar initiatives. This collaboration was realized through a German-American space partnership. To enable this, an international agreement was signed in June 2024 between DLR (German Aerospacce Center) and NASA, recognizing NEUROSPACE as the executing company from the German side.