Tacheles (satellite)

TACHELES

Operator	Neurospace
Spacecraft properties
Bus	12U CubeSat
Start of mission
Launch date	February 2026 (planned)
Rocket	Space Launch System
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	High Earth orbit

TACHELES is a 12U CubeSat developed by the German company Neurospace, scheduled to launch in February 2026 as a rideshare payload on NASA's Artemis II mission. ^{[1] [2]} The satellite is designed to test lunar rover electronics in deep space, including radiation exposure in the Van Allen belts. ^{[3] [4]}

Artemis II payload integration

Mission overview

TACHELES carries rover microcontrollers distributed across three boards to detect single-event effects, with an additional shielded board and radiation sensors. The payload integrates electronics from the HiveR rover, which will be raised to an altitude of over 38,000 km (24,000 mi), passing through both Van Allen radiation belts. The data collected will provide insights into the radiation environment and help optimize rover electronics for future lunar missions. ^[5]

Development and partners

Developed in Berlin, Germany, with support from Berlin Partner for Business and Technology and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The mission is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). An international agreement was signed between DLR and NASA to facilitate the mission. ^[6]

References

1. Jones, Andrew (2025-08-20). "South Korea's K-RadCube radiation satellite will hitch a ride on NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission". Space. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
2. "Artemis II: Scientific research during the mission". Canadian Space Agency. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
3. "Artemis II – small German satellite to fly to the Moon". DLR. 2024-09-18.
4. From CubeSat to Lunar Rover: Overview and Insights of NEUROSPACE's first 12U Satellite TACHELES on NASA's Artemis 2 Mission as a Technology Demonstrator for the HiveR Rover
5. "NASA to Fly International CubeSats Aboard Artemis II Test Flight". NASA. 2024-09-20.
6. "TACHELES from Berlin". Berlin Partner. 2024.

Weblinks

• Mission TACHELES on Neurospace – Detailed page on the Tacheles mission.
• Official website of Neurospace – Home page of the startup behind the Tacheles mission.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)