TACHELES from Berlin
Berlin, September 26, 2025 - A historic milestone for Berlin’s NEUROSPACE GmbH: on September 16, 2025, the young space-tech company officially handed over its self-developed satellite TACHELES to NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. TACHELES is a 12U CubeSat equipped with NEUROSPACE’s core innovation, the HiveR rover electronics. It is set to fly as part of Artemis II, NASA’s crewed lunar mission – marking the first time a German startup contributes directly to a mission to the Moon.
Artemis II marks the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The multi-stage Artemis program is designed to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, a visionary endeavor that relies on broad international cooperation. To that end, NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) signed a German-American space agreement in June 2024. This agreement enables German partners to contribute to the mission. Within this framework, NEUROSPACE was officially recognized by the DLR as an executing partner.
The rise of NEUROSPACE from Berlin startup to internationally recognized contributor to a lunar mission is no coincidence. The aerospace industry in the German capital region is one of the most dynamic future-focused sectors, offering local companies an ideal ecosystem for growth, innovation, and collaboration. NEUROSPACE has also benefited directly from the support of Berlin Partner, the city’s business development agency. Berlin Partner has assisted the company in securing funding, advised the team on available programs, connected it with key players in industry and research, and facilitated participation in trade fairs and events. The agency is also actively supporting NEUROSPACE in the implementation of the Artemis II project.
As part of the Artemis II mission, NEUROSPACE’s satellite will take on a critical role. TACHELES is set to enter a highly elliptical orbit with an apogee of about 77,000 kilometers – directly through the Van Allen radiation belt. In this challenging environment, the satellite will gather vital data on how radiation, temperature extremes, and long-term exposure affect rover electronics. The central aim: to test durability and reliability under some of space’s toughest conditions. To achieve this, NEUROSPACE will carry out a unique propulsion maneuver designed to extend the satellite’s lifespan from only a few days to several years. Over that period, TACHELES will conduct experiments and transmit results back to Earth. The maneuver has been carefully engineered to eliminate any risk to the astronauts aboard the crew capsule and to minimize the potential for space debris.
With TACHELES, NEUROSPACE shows how even a young startup can make a significant contribution to space exploration. By combining cutting-edge rover technology with targeted funding and international collaboration, the Berlin-based company strengthens both Germany’s and Europe’s role in global lunar research. Participation in one of today’s most important space missions already marks a milestone success in the company’s history.