24 Mar, 2026
- HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa visits ispace-Europe headquarters in Luxembourg
- Visit underscores the strong partnership between Japan and Luxembourg ahead of the 2027 centenary of diplomatic relations
- ispace-Europe showcases its lunar exploration capabilities and role in Europe’s growing space ecosystem.
LUXEMBOURG – March 24, 2026 – ispace EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE), the European entity of global lunar exploration company ispace, welcomed Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa of Japan to its headquarters in Luxembourg last week.
During the visit, HIH Princess Akiko met with members of the ispace-Europe team and learned about the company’s work developing advanced lunar technologies and supporting international missions to the Moon. The dialogue highlighted the shared commitment of Japan and Luxembourg to technological innovation, scientific advancement, and international collaboration in space exploration.
This visit was held while Japan and Luxembourg prepare to celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations in 2027, marking 100 years since formal ties were established on November 24, 1927. Over the past decade, the relationship between the two nations has expanded significantly in areas such as space technology, research, and innovation.
ispace-Europe’s presence in Luxembourg reflects this deepening partnership. Since establishing its European headquarters in Luxembourg in 2017, the company is responsible for the first-ever European designed, manufactured and assembled lunar rover and has played a key role in developing rover technologies and commercial mission capabilities, working with partners across Europe and globally to advance the next generation of lunar exploration.
During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the company’s rover manufacturing facility on the ispace-Europe campus, which is where TENACIOUS, the first European rover to launch for the Moon, was built. The team also presented ongoing projects, including rover work for upcoming missions such as MAGPIE, Europe’s first lunar polar ice exploration mission, currently funded for Phase 1 by the European Space Agency.
Earlier this month, H.E. Mamoru Nomura, Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg, also visited the ispace-Europe offices, further reinforcing the importance of the company as a bridge between the Luxembourg and Japanese innovation ecosystems.
Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace-Europe, said: “Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko’s visit is a great honour for our team and a powerful reminder of the strong and growing partnership between Luxembourg and Japan. ispace-Europe was founded on the belief that international collaboration is essential for advancing lunar exploration, and we are proud to contribute to the innovation ecosystems of both nations.”
Through its operations in Luxembourg, ispace-Europe is helping position Europe as an important enabler of lunar missions, combining robotics expertise, scientific partnerships, and international collaboration to support exploration of the Moon and the development of the emerging cislunar economy.
About ispace-EUROPE
ispace-EUROPE, a lunar exploration and resource development company based in Luxembourg, focuses on the development of lunar rovers. It is responsible for the first-ever European designed, manufactured, and assembled lunar rover. With its world-class talent, robotics capabilities, and connections to the Luxembourg ecosystem, ispace-EUROPE is uniquely positioned to accelerate the creation of a lunar industry in Europe and serve the needs of the growing institutional and commercial customers.