21 May, 2025
ispace & Barrelhand sign Payload Service Agreement to facilitate transportation to the Moon
LUXEMBOURG – May 21, 2025—ispace EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE), the Luxembourg-based subsidiary of ispace, inc., and Barrelhand Inc. (Barrelhand), a privately owned innovation platform dedicated to expanding access to the space economy, today announced the signing of a Payload Service Agreement to transport a memory disc (Memory Disc V3) as part of Team Draper Commercial Mission 1, also known as ispace’s Mission 3..
The payload is a coin-sized space module engineered to safeguard humanity’s cultural and linguistic heritage for millions of years. It will be integrated onto the ispace-Europe rover which will be deployed onto the lunar surface from the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, which is being developed by ispace technologies U.S. (ispace-U.S.). The lander is currently scheduled to launch to the Schrödinger Basin (far side of the Moon, South Pole).
A computer-generated image of ispace-U.S.’s APEX 1.0 Lunar Lander
Currently, ispace-EUROPE is developing a micro rover that will transport Memory Disc V3. At just 19mm in diameter, 1.2mm thickness, and weighing only 1.7 grams, Memory Disc V3 is crafted from raw nickel and nano-engraved using Nano Fiche technology, preserving an equivalent of 4GB of modern-day hieroglyphs in microscopic detail. Originally conceived by U.S. innovation platform Barrelhand as a psychological anchor for astronauts, it has evolved into a universal platform for connection and preservation. Engineered for permanence, the disc leverages nickel’s natural resilience to withstand radiation, temperature extremes, and the vacuum of space, ensuring its data remains intact for millions of years – resistant to degradation that erodes any conventional or digital storage media. With a microscopic resolution of up to 130,000 DPI, it serves as a modern-day Rosetta Stone, fully accessible through simple optical magnification, eliminating reliance on digital technology. With an ongoing development, Memory Disc V3 is the most refined version released by Barrelhand yet.
Image of the Memory Disc V3 and its contents. Image credit: Barrelhand Inc.
“As humanity explores space, it is essential that we carry not just our technology, but also our stories, values, and heritage. Through collaboration with governments, cultural institutions, and private partners, ispace is helping to establish a framework for preserving human history beyond our planet—ensuring that the legacy of Earth travels with us as we explore new frontiers. ispace-Europe offers opportunities through our rovers and lunar landers for customers focused on exploring the Moon and developing the cislunar economy as well cultural artifacts meant to enrich our lives,” said Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace Europe.
“Languages carry the knowledge, identity, and worldviews of peoples. Through our work on multilingualism and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, UNESCO strives to ensure that no language – and no culture – is left behind in this inspiring project,” said Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant-Director General for Communication and Information at UNESCO.
“Memory Disc should serve as both an archive and a bridge, created to connect with any intelligence driven by curiosity. Its five-year design journey explored psychological, physical, and spiritual realms of the human condition, with a vision to inspire deeper connections and discoveries across time and space,” said Michael Sorkin, Co-Founder of Barrelhand.
At UNESCO, International Decades are important cooperation mechanisms dedicated to raising awareness on a particular topic or theme of global interest or concern and mobilizing different players for coordinated action around the world.
Following the 2016 Resolution 71/178 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the period of 2022-2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, based on a recommendation by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In 2016, the Permanent Forum stated that 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing. The fact that most of these are indigenous languages puts the cultures and knowledge systems to which they belong at risk. Memory Disc v3 is an important project that raises awareness of this situation and seeks to play a role in preserving linguistic and cultural heritage.
About ispace-Europe (https://ispace-inc.com)
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.
About Barrelhand
Barrelhand Inc., headquartered in California, USA, is a privately owned innovation platform dedicated to expanding access to the space economy. Through collaborations with industry leaders, scientists, and cultural institutions, Barrelhand fosters new opportunities and research at the intersection of technology, exploration, and human heritage, shaping the next chapter of space development.