Blue Origin and Luxembourg Launch 'Oasis-1' Mission to Map Lunar Resources

Blue Origin and Luxembourg Announce Lunar Resource Mapping Mission

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has officially announced a partnership with Luxembourg for the 'Oasis-1' mission. This initiative marks the inaugural phase of 'Project Oasis,' a multi-phase endeavor designed to identify, assess, and ultimately utilize critical lunar resources from orbit. The announcement was made on September 30, 2025.

The collaboration brings together Blue Origin's expertise with Luxembourg's established space ecosystem, which includes its national space agency, GOMSpace, and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC). Blue Origin recently opened its first European office in Luxembourg, further solidifying this strategic partnership.

Detailed Lunar Resource Prospecting

The primary objective of the Oasis-1 mission is to generate the most detailed, high-resolution maps to date of various lunar resources. These include crucial elements such as water ice, Helium-3, radionuclides, rare earth elements, and precious metals.

To achieve this, Oasis-1 will deploy advanced technologies while operating in an ultra-low polar orbit. Key instruments and methods include:

• Neutron spectroscopy: To quantify subsurface water ice concentrations to depths of one meter.
• Magnetometers: For the detection of various metals.
• Multispectral imaging: For geological mapping and enhanced detection of Helium-3.

These techniques are expected to provide unprecedented spatial resolution and accuracy for resource prospecting.

Paving the Way for a Sustainable Space Economy

The broader 'Project Oasis' aims to address the significant challenge of high transportation costs for materials from Earth, making the construction of space infrastructure economically viable and strategically sustainable. The identified lunar resources hold immense potential for future space exploration and terrestrial benefits:

• Propellant Production: Water ice can be converted into hydrogen and oxygen, essential components for spacecraft propellant, positioning the Moon as a potential off-world refueling station for deep-space missions.
• Lunar Infrastructure: Resources could support local lunar surface power generation, advanced in-space manufacturing, and clean energy systems.
• Cost Reduction: By producing propellant and construction materials in situ, the program aims to reduce deep-space mission costs by up to 90 percent.
• Permanent Settlements: Enabling long-term lunar settlements through locally sourced building materials.

Pat Remias, Vice President, Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering at Blue Origin, emphasized the transformative potential, stating, 'Once we know what's really there and how to access it, everything changes.' He added that 'Project Oasis creates the foundation for a thriving space economy that benefits everyone, including the billions of individuals on Earth who will benefit from space-based resources.'

Luxembourg's Pioneering Role in Space Resources

Luxembourg has long been a proactive player in the space resources sector. The country launched its 'SpaceResources.lu' initiative in 2016, establishing a legal framework for the exploration and utilization of space resources, making it the first European country to do so. The establishment of the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) in 2020 further underscores Luxembourg's commitment to becoming a hub for space resource research and commercialization.

Blue Origin's related 'Blue Alchemist' technology, which processes lunar regolith into useful products like oxygen, solar cells, and power cables, complements the Oasis mission by focusing on resource utilization once identified. This integrated approach aims to transform the Moon into a resource and power hub, reducing complexity for missions to Mars and beyond.