The Moonhouse exists simultaneously as a lunar installation, a set of Earth-based artefacts and a complete archival record documenting the work’s conception, transport, authorisation and placement.

Authorisation

Swedish Government Authorisation

Granted under the Swedish Act on Space Activities.
Decision reference: U2024/02274.

Chain of Custody

1999 — Concept initiated by Mikael Genberg
2024 — Payload integration completed with ispace Mission 2
2025 — Launch from Kennedy Space Center
2025 — Lunar placement realised in Mare Frigoris

Technical designation

Lunar Coordinates

60.44°N, 4.6°W
Mare Frigoris
Moon

Object Specification

Approx. dimensions: 8 × 10 × 12 cm
Material: aluminium
Payload integration: Tenacious rover / ispace Mission 2

Vibration and Resistance Tests

Delta Development Technology, Västerås, 2024

Qualification testing performed prior to payload integration.

Lunar Terrain Simulation

ispace facility, Luxembourg, 2021

Early mobility and terrain tests conducted using prototype rover systems and simulated lunar topography.

Payload Assembly

Technical integration drawing, 2023

Sketch Development

Virsbo, Sweden

Preparatory studies and visual development related to The Moonhouse.

Thermal Qualification Testing

Fagersta, Sweden, 2024

The flight and spare models undergoing high-temperature testing during material qualification for lunar deployment.

Custom ceramic pigments were developed and independently tested to ensure compliance with aerospace outgassing requirements.

Virsbo

2023–2024

The Moonhouse project was developed over more than two decades from Mikael Genberg’s red wooden house in Virsbo, Sweden.

During the final preparation period, ordinary domestic spaces were temporarily transformed into controlled environments for handling and preparing the lunar models.

The boundary between home, studio and spacecraft gradually disappeared.

Prototype Testing in Virsbo

2023

Engineers from ispace Europe testing early rover and deployment concepts during a summer visit to Virsbo, Sweden.

Long before launch, many aspects of The Moonhouse were explored through simple physical experiments — combining aerospace engineering with improvisation, curiosity and play.