Artemis II Moon Mission
Berlin, April 2, 2026 – In a 2023 interview with Berlin Partner, Irene Selvanathan, founder and CEO of NEUROSPACE, set an ambitious course: “Our ultimate goal is to send the first German rover to the moon within the next two to three years – designed and built in Berlin.” Today, that ambition is becoming reality. Her company is part of the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17. When NASA’sArtemis II mission lifted off on April 2 at 0:35 a.m. CET, the NEUROSPACE-developed satellite TACHELES began its journey into space as well.
NEUROSPACE’s participation was made possible through a German-American space agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and NASA. The collaboration underscores the strength of German satellite technology on the global stage. For NEUROSPACE, it marks the most significant milestone in the company’s history to date – supported throughout by Berlin Partner for Business and Technology.
TACHELES was officially handed over to NASA on Sept. 16, 2025, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 12U CubeSat is equipped with NEUROSPACE’s proprietary HiveR rover technology During the mission, it will enter a highly elliptical orbit with an apogee of approximately 77,000 kilometers, passing through the heart of the Van Allen radiation belts. There, if all proceeds as planned, the satellite will examine the effects of extreme radiation and temperature fluctuations on electronic components. The objective: to validate the durability and reliability of rover technology under real space conditions. How resilient is TACHELES? To extend the satellite’s originally planned 28-hour lifespan to several days – and potentially up to 2.5 years – NEUROSPACE will execute a dedicated propulsion maneuver during the mission. This maneuver, however, is subject to one clear condition: the safety of the four astronauts aboard Artemis II must not be compromised.
Selvanathan also emphasized in her 2023 interview: “We’re Berliners, and we feel very much at home here – it was important for us to establish Berlin as our headquarters.” That decision has proven its value. Berlin’s space industry is innovative, diverse and exceptionally well connected. Satellite technology, in particular, is a focal point of the region’s research and development landscape. Should NEUROSPACE succeed in extending TACHELES’ operational life, the data and insights generated could help drive further breakthroughs in space research.
For everyone else, NEUROSPACE’s website – and ongoing media coverage – offer a front-row seat to Berlin’s latest chapter in space exploration.