TACHELES

TACHELES [Neurospace]

TACHELES () is a 12U CubeSat developed by Neurospace of Germany. The satellite is designed as a deep-space technology demonstrator focusing on radiation effects on lunar rover electronics.

The primary objective of the mission is the in-orbit validation of electronic components intended for lunar surface mobility systems. TACHELES is intended to expose rover avionics to the natural radiation environment beyond low Earth orbit, including prolonged transit through the Van Allen radiation belts. The mission addresses the gap between ground-based radiation testing and actual deep-space conditions.

The purpose is the analysis of single-event effects in commercial and custom microcontrollers used in planetary rovers. By operating these components during passage through high-radiation regions, the mission aims to generate empirical data on error rates, fault behavior, and long-term degradation. The results are intended to support the optimization of rover electronics for future lunar exploration missions.

The spacecraft was developed by Neurospace, a German company based in Berlin. The payload electronics are derived from the HiveR lunar rover program. Development was supported by Berlin Partner for Business and Technology and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Mission funding is provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). An international agreement between DLR and NASA enables participation in the mission.

TACHELES carries a payload consisting of rover microcontrollers distributed across three separate circuit boards. This architecture allows comparative detection of radiation-induced faults across multiple processing units. An additional microcontroller board is shielded to provide reference data under reduced radiation exposure. Dedicated radiation sensors complement the electronics payload by measuring the local radiation environment.

The satellite is designed to reach an apogee exceeding 38,000 km. This trajectory ensures traversal of both the inner and outer Van Allen belts, exposing the payload to elevated levels of trapped charged particles. Power, data handling, and communications subsystems are sized for extended operation beyond typical CubeSat orbital regimes.

TACHELES was launched 1 April 2026. It flew as a rideshare payload with three more cubesats on NASA’s Artemis 2 mission. The launch profile enables insertion into a high-altitude trajectory suitable for deep-space radiation testing without requiring an independent propulsion stage.