LUXEMBOURG – GomSpace Luxembourg announced on Friday, January 9, 2026, that it has been selected by a leading North American space company to design two state-of-the-art spacecraft for a lunar exploration mission. The contract, valued at 2.9 million EUR (31.7 million SEK), tasks the small-satellite specialist with the initial design phase of the deep-space platforms.
The project will largely be executed at GomSpace’s Luxembourg facilities, expanding the nation’s specialized capabilities in delivering complex systems for exploration missions beyond Earth orbit.
Deep Space Heritage and Technical Foundation
The new spacecraft will leverage technology and expertise derived from GomSpace’s previous contributions to high-profile interplanetary programs. This includes the company’s work on the European Space Agency (ESA) HERA mission, specifically the Juventas CubeSat, which was designed to perform radar imaging of the Didymos asteroid system.
GomSpace is also a key partner in the ESA RAMSES mission, which targets the asteroid 99942 Apophis. For the lunar mission, GomSpace will apply these flight-proven modular architectures to meet the rigorous demands of the cislunar environment, focusing on:
- Advanced Propulsion and Navigation: Requirements for precise lunar orbit insertion and station-keeping.
- Modular Deep-Space Platforms: Utilizing low-cost, agile small-satellite designs to reduce mission overhead.
- Spacecraft Resiliency: Hardened subsystems capable of surviving the higher radiation levels found in deep space.
Strategic Partnerships in Lunar Exploration
“This partnership opens exciting possibilities for humankind, for our country, and for GomSpace,” said Edgar Milic, Managing Director of GomSpace Luxembourg. “It is a testament to the strength of our team, our deep-space heritage, and our growing ability to deliver complex missions with agility, precision, and purpose”.
The collaboration underscores a broader industry shift where commercial space agencies are increasingly utilizing small satellite platforms for secondary and primary science missions in the solar system.
Timeline to 2026
The initial design phase is scheduled for execution during the first half of 2026. Successful completion of this phase is expected to lead to subsequent hardware manufacturing and integration milestones as the North American partner moves toward its launch window.
