ispace, a global lunar exploration company, and EdgeCortix Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company specializing in energy-efficient Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing at the edge, today announced a mutual strategic cooperation to explore cislunar development using EdgeCortix’s low-power AI-specific processors with ispace lunar exploration activities.

ispace and EdgeCortix have agreed to collaborate using data from existing and future missions. The agreement in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focuses on using EdgeCortix’s SAKURA-II platform, an advanced AI hardware acceleration device (processor) providing best-in-class power-efficiency, driven by their patented low-latency Dynamic Neural Accelerator (DNA) technology and MERA software and compiler framework.

“We are very pleased to be working with EdgeCortix, a leader in efficient AI technologies,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace. “We believe working together we can develop and improve technologies for the cislunar environment that will overcome the challenges found on the Moon.”

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with ispace to develop a strategic plan for integrating our SAKURA-II AI-specific processors into cislunar systems,” said Sakyasingha Dasgupta, CEO and Founder of EdgeCortix. “Space is the final frontier for edge computing, and we are eager to support ispace’s mission to enhance intelligence, efficiency, and effectiveness in AI workloads during their missions.”

In January, EdgeCortix announced that NASA had deemed its SAKURA-I AI Accelerator platform suitable for space missions including in Earth orbit and on the lunar surface, demonstrating high levels of radiation resiliency, and proving its technology.

NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging Program (NEPP) executed two phases of testing on EdgeCortix’s AI accelerator, subjecting it to both proton and heavy ion radiations to evaluate its ability to withstand radiation impact in space-like environments. The NEPP testing initiative was commissioned to advance the goal of achieving full autonomy in space.

Currently, ispace is actively operating the SMBC x HAKUTO-R Venture Moon Mission 2, returning valuable data during its low-energy, highly efficient trajectory to the Moon. The RESILIENCE lunar lander successfully completed a flyby of the Moon on Feb. 15, 2025, reaching its closest point at 22:43 UTC, Feb. 14, 2025.

ispace is leveraging its global presence through its three business units in Japan, the U.S., and Luxembourg, for the simultaneous development of upcoming missions. Mission 2, featuring the RESILIENCE lunar lander, is led by ispace Japan launched on Jan. 15, 2025, completed a lunar flyby on Feb. 15, 2025, and is currently traveling to the Moon. During the mission, the TENACIOUS micro rover will be deployed on the lunar surface to conduct a technological demonstration of regolith extraction as well as mobility on the lunar surface. Mission 3, debuting the APEX 1.0 lunar lander, is led by ispace-U.S. and is expected to launch in 2026. The company’s fourth mission, which will utilize the Series 3 lander, currently being designed in Japan, is scheduled to be launched by 2027.

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