Key areas include developing the space industry to facilitate sustainable space exploration, fostering the creation of new markets and business opportunities, and using technological innovations from space to improve life on Earth.

The extension was signed by the Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, Lex Delles, during a visit to ESA’s Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Following the memorandum, an implementation agreement between ESA, the Luxembourg Space Agency and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology was signed, concerning cooperation activities at the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) in Luxembourg.

ESRIC is positioning itself as Europe’s centre of excellence for science, technology and business related to space resources. It provides access to experts and specialised research facilities procured by ESA. Work at ESRIC is focused on advancing knowledge and technologies for extracting oxygen from moon dust with its in-situ resource utilisation demonstrator, the first research facility delivered to the centre in 2023. Other facilities studying oxygen extraction are due to be delivered in the next few years.

ESRIC’s start-up support programme also focuses on space resources. It aims at developing early-stage ventures and start-ups designing novel technologies for space resources applications. Three companies have already been selected to join the programme, and a fourth is due to be selected soon.

ESA has also worked with ESRIC on space resources week, the largest annual gathering of the international space resources community, as well as the first space resources challenge, which encouraged the community to explore innovative technology solutions for prospecting resources on the Moon.

The cooperation between ESA and Luxembourg, through activities at ESRIC, will continue to prepare for future in-situ resource utilisation infrastructures on the Moon, paving the way for sustainable exploration beyond Earth.

“Our collaboration with ESA is very successful, and I welcome the fruitful exchange here at ESTEC. ESA is a key technical partner for Luxembourg and the projects we are running together do not only make sense for the space industry, but have real impact on the national economy and on the day-to-day life of people. The Hera mission [to study the Didymos binary asteroid system] is a very good practical example of a contribution from a Luxembourgish private company to an ESA mission,” said Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy.

“Luxembourg ‘s investment in space is really impressive, the country is a world leader in the field of space resources and I am delighted we could sign this Memorandum of Cooperation today. ESA and Luxembourg collaborate very well. I hope to see this collaboration going further, project wise, but also by being able to welcome more Luxembourgish talents as part of our staff in the future,” said ESA General Director, Josef Achbacher.