{ "name": "SpaceMiningData space resources dataset", "version": "d8d22e0172a91cff013fc82dc7f9176b8db75656fa45b2c188079c2b83841fd3", "built": "2026-09-27", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "url": "https://spaceminingdata.com/data.html", "records": [ { "stable_id": "auth-us-moon-express-2016", "name": "FAA-led interagency payload review: Moon Express MX-1E (2016)", "summary": "The FAA FY2016 Performance and Accountability Report records a favorable payload determination for the Moon Express MX-1E mission. Company releases describe the interagency review of its proposed 2017 lunar mission; this is not recorded as a resource-extraction permit.", "status": "granted", "status_basis": "The FAA FY2016 report confirms the favorable payload determination for MX-1E. Company releases describe the application and interagency consultation; the original determination letter and its exact date, conditions, and subsequent disposition have not been retrieved.", "sources": [ { "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/2016id_/http://moonexpress.com:80/news/us-government-approves-plan-moon-express-become-first-private-company-venture-beyond-earths-orbit/", "title": "U.S. Government Approves Plan for Moon Express to become First Private Company to Venture Beyond Earth's Orbit (archived company release, 3 August 2016)", "publisher": "Moon Express, Inc. (archived by Internet Archive)", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2016-08-03", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "The framework of the interagency approval surrounds Moon Express' proposed 'Mission Approval' arrangement that utilizes existing payload review and launch license processes under authorities of the Secretary of Transportation, and adds to them a series of voluntary disclosures intended to provide the Federal Government with sufficient information to help fulfill its supervisory obligations under the Outer Space Treaty.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope", "instrument_type", "legal_basis_ids" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/2016id_/http://moonexpress.com:80/news/us-government-approves-plan-moon-express-become-first-private-company-venture-beyond-earths-orbit/", "title": "Moon Express release - interagency consultation", "publisher": "Moon Express, Inc. (archived by Internet Archive)", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2016-08-03", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Moon Express received the green light for pursuing its 2017 lunar mission following in depth consultations with the FAA, the White House, the State Department, NASA and other federal agencies.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "authority", "date_granted" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/2016id_/http://moonexpress.com:80/news/us-government-approves-plan-moon-express-become-first-private-company-venture-beyond-earths-orbit/", "title": "Moon Express release - first-of-kind claim", "publisher": "Moon Express, Inc. (archived by Internet Archive)", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2016-08-03", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Moon Express has become the first private company approved to literally go out of this world as a pioneer of commercial space missions beyond Earth's orbit.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "first_of_kind" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/2016id_/http://moonexpress.com:80/news/moon-express-becomes-first-private-company-history-initiate-commercial-lunar-mission-approval-process-u-s-government/", "title": "Moon Express Becomes First Private Company in History to Initiate a Commercial Lunar Mission Approval Process with the U.S. Government (archived company release, 8 April 2016)", "publisher": "Moon Express, Inc. (archived by Internet Archive)", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2016-04-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Moon Express made history as the first private space company to request the U.S government to conduct a payload review of its spacecraft and plans leading to regulatory approval of a commercial mission to the Moon in 2017.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "instrument_type", "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/2016id_/http://moonexpress.com:80/news/moon-express-becomes-first-private-company-history-initiate-commercial-lunar-mission-approval-process-u-s-government/", "title": "Moon Express April 2016 release - submission to FAA AST", "publisher": "Moon Express, Inc. (archived by Internet Archive)", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2016-04-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Moon Express initiated the review process through a submission to the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST)", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "authority" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section50904&num=0&edition=prelim", "title": "51 U.S.C. 50904(c) (payload review authority)", "publisher": "Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives", "source_class": "legislation", "published": null, "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "The Secretary of Transportation shall establish whether all required licenses, authorizations, and permits required for a payload have been obtained.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "legal_basis_ids" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": "51 U.S.C. 50904(c)" } }, { "url": "https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/afn/offices/finance/offices/budget/par/fy16-par.pdf", "title": "FAA FY 2016 Performance and Accountability Report: aviation timeline", "publisher": "Federal Aviation Administration", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": null, "accessed": "2026-09-26", "quote": "FAA makes a favorable payload determination for the Moon Express MX-1E mission", "supports": [ "summary", "status_basis", "instrument_type", "instrument_native_name" ], "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "page": 11 } } ], "confidence": "medium", "missing_evidence": [ "Original FAA payload determination letter (signatory, full conditions and scope) not retrieved; the FAA annual report corroborates the act but not those details.", "Exact date of the determination: the company announced it on 3 August 2016; the FAA decision date may be earlier.", "The MX-1E mission never launched (see msn-moon-express-mx-1e); whether the determination was ever formally closed or lapsed is not documented." ], "last_checked": "2026-09-26", "history": [ { "field": "sources", "old": "Company releases and statutory context only", "new": "FAA FY2016 report corroborates the payload determination", "changed_on": "2026-09-26", "reason": "source_update", "source_index": 6 } ], "review_state": "verified", "jurisdiction": "US", "authority": "U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST), after consultation with the White House, State Department, NASA and other agencies (per company)", "legal_basis_ids": [ "law-us-commercial-space-launch-act-chapter-509" ], "pinpoint": "51 U.S.C. 50904(c) (payload review); implementing FAA payload-review regulation of 2016 not retrieved", "instrument_type": "favorable_payload_determination", "instrument_native_name": "favorable payload determination (FAA FY2016 report)", "holder_id": "org-moon-express", "holder_name_as_written": "Moon Express, Inc.", "mission_id": "msn-moon-express-mx-1e", "date_granted": { "value": "2016", "precision": "year", "basis": "actual", "note": "announced by the company on 2016-08-03; government decision date not retrieved" }, "scope": "Company states: approval of its proposed 2017 lunar mission via its 'Mission Approval' arrangement using existing payload review and launch license processes, with voluntary disclosures. The FAA annual report confirms the favorable payload determination but does not reproduce its conditions. This instrument is not recorded as a resource-extraction or resource-ownership authorization.", "resources_covered": [], "first_of_kind": { "scope": "first U.S. government approval of a private mission beyond Earth orbit (company claim)", "asserted_by": "company", "source_index": 2 }, "review": { "author_model": "gpt-6-astra", "reviewer_model": "gpt-5.6-sol", "reviewer_run": "research/review/sol-moon-express-20260926.json", "date": "2026-09-26", "sources_reopened": [ 6 ], "edits_applied": 0, "base_record_sha256": "4d118dc7409bd0f32bce1e3dcfa741b3a68ff83951f1942dcb8894419b4292b6" } }, { "stable_id": "auth-japan-ispace-2022", "name": "Japan Space Resources Act permit to ispace for HAKUTO-R Mission 1 (2022)", "summary": "On 4 November 2022 Japan's Prime Minister (Cabinet Office) granted ispace, inc. permit No. 衛星22-019 with a space resources business activity plan for Mission 1: collecting lunar regolith on the lander's footpads and transferring its ownership in place to NASA. It was the first permit under the 2021 Act. The lander did not complete a soft landing on 26 April 2023 (operator statement), so the planned regolith collection and ownership transfer did not take place.", "status": "granted", "status_basis": "Cabinet Office permit list (dated 令和4年11月4日, No. 衛星22-019, 株式会社ispace). No revocation found. Mission ended with loss of the lander (operator statement), so the permitted activity was never carried out.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application.html", "title": "宇宙資源法に関する申請受付について - 許可案件一覧 (list of permits)", "publisher": "Cabinet Office, National Space Policy Secretariat", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": null, "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "令和4年11月4日 衛星22-019 株式会社ispace", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "date_granted", "holder_name_as_written", "status" ], "language": "ja", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application.html", "title": "宇宙資源法に関する申請受付について - 主な許可の件数 (permit counts by fiscal year)", "publisher": "Cabinet Office, National Space Policy Secretariat", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": null, "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "令和3年度 0 令和4年度 1", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "first_of_kind" ], "language": "ja", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2022/11/08/ispace-receives-license-to-conduct-business-activity-on-the-moon-from-japanese-government/", "title": "ispace Receives License to Conduct Business Activity on the Moon from Japanese Government (8 November 2022)", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2022-11-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "The approval, the first granted under Japan's recently enacted Act on the Promotion of Business Activities for the Exploration and Development of Space Resources (Space Resources Act), is effective as of November 4, 2022", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "date_granted", "first_of_kind" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2022/11/08/ispace-receives-license-to-conduct-business-activity-on-the-moon-from-japanese-government/", "title": "ispace license release - scope", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2022-11-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "During M1, ispace is expected to collect regolith that accumulates on the footpad of the landing gear during the touchdown on the surface, photograph the collected regolith and conduct an \"in-place\" transfer of ownership of the lunar regolith to NASA.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope", "resources_covered" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2022/11/08/ispace-receives-license-to-conduct-business-activity-on-the-moon-from-japanese-government/", "title": "ispace license release - no return to Earth", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2022-11-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Under the contract, the lunar regolith will not be returned to Earth.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2023/05/26/ispace-announces-results-of-the-hakuto-r-mission-1-lunar-landing/", "title": "ispace Announces Results of the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Landing (26 May 2023)", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2023-05-26", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Although the lander did not complete a soft landing, the cause has been identified and improvements are being incorporated into Mission 2 and Mission 3.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "status_basis" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" } ], "confidence": "high", "missing_evidence": [ "Text of the Mission 1 business activity plan published by the Cabinet Office (https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application/pdf/bap_j_22019.pdf) could not be extracted (font encoding); scope wording relies on ispace's release." ], "last_checked": "2026-09-25", "history": [], "review_state": "verified", "jurisdiction": "JP", "authority": "Prime Minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣), administered by the Cabinet Office National Space Policy Secretariat (内閣府宇宙開発戦略推進事務局)", "legal_basis_ids": [ "law-japan-space-resources-2021", "law-japan-space-activities-2016" ], "pinpoint": "Space Resources Act (Act No. 83 of 2021) Art. 3(1)-(3) and Art. 5; Space Activities Act (Act No. 76 of 2016) Art. 20(1)", "instrument_type": "national_space_resources_authorization", "instrument_native_name": "宇宙資源の探査及び開発の許可 (permit number 衛星22-019)", "holder_id": "org-ispace", "holder_name_as_written": "株式会社ispace", "mission_id": "msn-ispace-hakuto-r-m1", "date_granted": { "value": "2022-11-04", "precision": "day" }, "scope": "Per ispace: collect regolith that accumulates on the landing-gear footpads at touchdown, photograph it, and conduct an in-place transfer of ownership of the regolith to NASA under NASA's December 2020 contract; the regolith was not to be returned to Earth. Passive collection by footpad accumulation only; no excavation or processing.", "resources_covered": [ "regolith" ], "first_of_kind": { "scope": "first permit under Japan's Space Resources Act (Act No. 83 of 2021)", "asserted_by": "regulator", "source_index": 1 }, "review": { "author_model": "claude-opus-5-5", "reviewer_model": "claude-sonnet-5", "reviewer_run": "research/review/legal-and-authorizations.json", "date": "2026-09-26", "sources_reopened": true, "edits_applied": 0 } }, { "stable_id": "auth-luxembourg-ispace-europe-2024", "name": "Luxembourg space resources mission authorisation to ispace EUROPE S.A. for the TENACIOUS micro-rover (2024)", "summary": "On 22 November 2024 Luxembourg granted ispace EUROPE S.A. an authorisation under the Law of 20 July 2017 for commercial exploration and use of space resources on the Moon: micro-rover operations to collect lunar regolith for NASA's purchase agreement, plus surface exploration, during ispace Mission 2. It is the first and, as of 2026-09-25, only entry in Luxembourg's register. The lander carrying the rover was lost in a likely hard landing on 6 June 2025 and ispace concluded the mission, so the authorised rover operations did not take place.", "status": "granted", "status_basis": "Luxembourg Space Agency register lists the authorisation dated 22 November 2024; confirmed by Luxembourg's COPUOS statement (May 2025) and Article XI notification A/AC.105/1363. No revocation found.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://space-agency.public.lu/dam-assets/old-website/publications/2025/draft-registry-sr-authorisations-final.pdf", "title": "Authorisation(s) granted under the Law of 20 July 2017 on Exploration and Use of Space Resources (register)", "publisher": "Luxembourg Space Agency", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "ispace EUROPE S. A. 22 November 2024 The authorised mission encompasses the exploration and use of space resources for commercial purposes including micro-rover operations needed for this objective. It involves collecting lunar regolith to fulfil resources purchase agreement with NASA, as well as conducting lunar surface exploration activities.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "date_granted", "holder_name_as_written", "scope", "status" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 1 } }, { "url": "https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/lsc/2025/Statements/Thursday8PM/8_Luxembourg.pdf", "title": "Intervention du Luxembourg, 64e session du Sous-Comité juridique du CUPEEA, point 8 (mai 2025)", "publisher": "Government of Luxembourg (statement posted by UNOOSA)", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025-05-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "le 22 novembre 2024, le Luxembourg a accordé à l'entreprise ispace Europe l'agrément pour effectuer une mission d'exploration et d'utilisation des ressources spatiales sur la surface lunaire", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "date_granted", "instrument_native_name" ], "language": "fr", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 1 } }, { "url": "https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/lsc/2025/Statements/Thursday8PM/8_Luxembourg.pdf", "title": "Intervention du Luxembourg - first-of-kind statement", "publisher": "Government of Luxembourg (statement posted by UNOOSA)", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025-05-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "il s'agit de la première autorisation accordée en Europe pour permettre l'exploration et l'utilisation des ressources spatiales dans le cadre de mission à des fins commerciales", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "first_of_kind" ], "language": "fr", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 2 } }, { "url": "https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A/AC.105/1363&l=en&t=pdf", "title": "A/AC.105/1363 - Note verbale dated 11 April 2025 from the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg (Article XI notification, ispace EUROPE S.A.)", "publisher": "United Nations, COPUOS", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025-04-24", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "ispace EUROPE S.A. holds an authorization granted by Luxembourg under the Law of 20 July 2017 on the Exploration and Use of Space Resources", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "status", "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 3 } }, { "url": "https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A/AC.105/1363&l=en&t=pdf", "title": "A/AC.105/1363 - location of activity", "publisher": "United Nations, COPUOS", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025-04-24", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "The mission of ispace EUROPE S.A. will be carried out within the radius of approximately 100 metres from the landing location", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 2 } }, { "url": "https://2022.ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=6660", "title": "ispace-EUROPE Secures First-Ever Mission Authorization Under Luxembourg's Space Resources Law (8 January 2025)", "publisher": "ispace, inc. / ispace-EUROPE S.A.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2025-01-08", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "The approval, issued by the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy, positions ispace-EUROPE as a global leader in space resource commercialization", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "authority" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://2022.ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=6558", "title": "ispace Mission 2 license release - TENACIOUS regolith method", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2024-12-17", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "the micro rover will use a scoop to pick up regolith from the lunar surface, photograph the regolith in the scoop and conduct an \"in-place\" transfer of ownership of the lunar regolith to NASA", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2025/06/06/status-update-on-ispace-mission-2-smbc-x-hakuto-r-venture-moon/", "title": "Status Update on ispace Mission 2 SMBC x HAKUTO-R VENTURE MOON (6 June 2025)", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2025-06-06", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "It has been decided to conclude the mission.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "summary" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" } ], "confidence": "high", "missing_evidence": [ "Authorisation instrument itself (ministerial decision text, conditions) is not published; scope relies on the register description and the Article XI notification." ], "last_checked": "2026-09-25", "history": [], "review_state": "verified", "jurisdiction": "LU", "authority": "Ministers in charge of the economy and space activities (Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy); register maintained by the Luxembourg Space Agency", "legal_basis_ids": [ "law-luxembourg-space-resources-2017" ], "pinpoint": "Law of 20 July 2017, Art. 2(1) and Art. 3 (written mission authorisation for commercial exploration and use of space resources); Art. 1 (ownership)", "instrument_type": "national_space_resources_authorization", "instrument_native_name": "agrément (mission authorisation under the Law of 20 July 2017)", "holder_id": "org-ispace-europe", "holder_name_as_written": "ispace EUROPE S. A.", "mission_id": "msn-ispace-europe-tenacious", "date_granted": { "value": "2024-11-22", "precision": "day" }, "scope": "Register: 'exploration and use of space resources for commercial purposes including micro-rover operations needed for this objective', involving collecting lunar regolith to fulfil a resources purchase agreement with NASA and conducting lunar surface exploration. Article XI notification: activity within about 100 m of the Mare Frigoris landing site; Luxembourg is not a launching State and registers no space objects for the mission. Per ispace, the rover was to scoop regolith, photograph it and transfer ownership in place to NASA.", "resources_covered": [ "regolith" ], "first_of_kind": { "scope": "first authorisation under Luxembourg's Law of 20 July 2017 and, per Luxembourg, the first in Europe for commercial space resource exploration and use", "asserted_by": "regulator", "source_index": 2 }, "review": { "author_model": "claude-opus-5-5", "reviewer_model": "claude-sonnet-5", "reviewer_run": "research/review/legal-and-authorizations.json", "date": "2026-09-26", "sources_reopened": true, "edits_applied": 0 } }, { "stable_id": "auth-japan-ispace-2024", "name": "Japan Space Resources Act permit to ispace for Mission 2 (RESILIENCE) (2024)", "summary": "On 17 December 2024 Japan's Prime Minister (Cabinet Office) granted ispace, inc. permit No. 衛星24-025 with a business activity plan to collect lunar regolith on the RESILIENCE lander's footpads during Mission 2 and transfer its ownership to a customer (NASA). The lander was lost in a likely hard landing on 6 June 2025 and ispace concluded the mission, so the planned collection and transfer did not take place.", "status": "granted", "status_basis": "Cabinet Office permit list (dated 令和6年12月17日, No. 衛星24-025, 株式会社ispace). No revocation found. Operator states the lander likely hard-landed and the mission was concluded.", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application.html", "title": "宇宙資源法に関する申請受付について - 許可案件一覧 (list of permits)", "publisher": "Cabinet Office, National Space Policy Secretariat", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": null, "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "令和6年12月17日 衛星24-025 株式会社ispace", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "date_granted", "holder_name_as_written", "status" ], "language": "ja", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application/pdf/bap_j_24025.pdf", "title": "事業活動計画書 (business activity plan) for permit 衛星24-025", "publisher": "Cabinet Office, National Space Policy Secretariat", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2024-12", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "月面着陸ミッション 2(以下「M2」という。)において、月面における堆積層(以下 「レゴリス」という。)を採取し、カスタマ相手の取引を行うことを目的とする。", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "ja", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": "1 目的 (purpose)", "page": 2 } }, { "url": "https://www8.cao.go.jp/space/application/resource/application/pdf/bap_j_24025.pdf", "title": "事業活動計画書 - 5 事業活動の内容 (content of activities)", "publisher": "Cabinet Office, National Space Policy Secretariat", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2024-12", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "ispace は堆積したレゴリスの存在を撮影画像により確認した上で、その所有権につい て運用終了措置実施以前に ispace からカスタマに移転する商業取引を行う。運用中に物理 的な受け渡し行為を伴うものではない。", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "ja", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": "5 事業活動の内容", "page": 4 } }, { "url": "https://2022.ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=6558", "title": "ispace Obtains License to Conduct Lunar Surface Operations from Japanese Government for Second Mission (17 December 2024)", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2024-12-17", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "During the mission, ispace is expected to collect regolith that accumulates on the footpad of the landing gear of the RESILIENCE lunar lander during the touchdown on the surface, photograph the collected regolith with the TENACIOUS micro rover and conduct an \"in-place\" transfer of ownership of the lunar regolith to NASA.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" }, { "url": "https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/spacelaw/treatyimplementation/ost/AC105_1355E.pdf", "title": "A/AC.105/1355 - Note verbale dated 19 March 2025 from the Permanent Mission of Japan (Article XI notification, ispace Lander Mission 2)", "publisher": "United Nations, COPUOS", "source_class": "government_primary", "published": "2025-03-21", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Special consideration: commercial transaction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America for lunar regolith acquisition", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "scope" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none", "quote_locator": { "article": null, "page": 2 } }, { "url": "https://www.ispace-inc.com/2025/06/06/status-update-on-ispace-mission-2-smbc-x-hakuto-r-venture-moon/", "title": "Status Update on ispace Mission 2 SMBC x HAKUTO-R VENTURE MOON (6 June 2025)", "publisher": "ispace, inc.", "source_class": "company_primary", "published": "2025-06-06", "accessed": "2026-09-25", "quote": "Based on these circumstances, it is currently assumed that the lander likely performed a hard landing on the lunar surface.", "quote_confirmed_raw": true, "supports": [ "status_basis" ], "language": "en", "translation": "none" } ], "confidence": "high", "missing_evidence": [], "last_checked": "2026-09-25", "history": [], "review_state": "verified", "jurisdiction": "JP", "authority": "Prime Minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣), administered by the Cabinet Office National Space Policy Secretariat (内閣府宇宙開発戦略推進事務局)", "legal_basis_ids": [ "law-japan-space-resources-2021", "law-japan-space-activities-2016" ], "pinpoint": "Space Resources Act (Act No. 83 of 2021) Art. 3(1)-(3) and Art. 5; Space Activities Act (Act No. 76 of 2016) Art. 20(1)", "instrument_type": "national_space_resources_authorization", "instrument_native_name": "宇宙資源の探査及び開発の許可 (permit number 衛星24-025)", "holder_id": "org-ispace", "holder_name_as_written": "株式会社ispace", "mission_id": "msn-ispace-m2-resilience", "date_granted": { "value": "2024-12-17", "precision": "day" }, "scope": "Business activity plan (Cabinet Office): collect lunar regolith that passively accumulates on the lander footpads at touchdown, confirm it with images from the micro rover's camera, and transfer ownership to the customer before end-of-operations measures, with no physical handover; planned for about 14 days after landing in the first half of 2025. Japan's Article XI notification names the customer transaction as one with NASA for lunar regolith acquisition.", "resources_covered": [ "regolith" ], "review": { "author_model": "claude-opus-5-5", "reviewer_model": "claude-sonnet-5", "reviewer_run": "research/review/legal-and-authorizations.json", "date": "2026-09-26", "sources_reopened": true, "edits_applied": 0 } } ] }