Moon
Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services
Five-satellite ESA constellation for communications and navigation around the Moon.
Programme launched in October 2024. Lunar Pathfinder is the precursor, initial Moonlight operations are planned by the end of 2028, and full operations by 2030.
Official mission site ↗The mission
ESA's Moonlight LCNS programme will deploy one high-data-rate communications satellite and four navigation satellites around the Moon, linked to three dedicated Earth ground stations. The network prioritizes the lunar south pole and follows LunaNet interoperability standards.
The launch
- Launch
- Initial operations by end of 2028
- Launch location
- Not documented
- Launch vehicle
- Not documented
- Orbit
- Lunar orbit constellation
Mission timeline
Programme contract signed
15 October 2024
ESA formally commenced Moonlight with its industrial consortium.
Open milestone source ↗Objectives
- 01
Enable precise autonomous lunar landings.
- 02
Provide navigation for surface mobility near the lunar south pole.
- 03
Deliver high-speed, low-latency communications and data transfer.
- 04
Implement interoperable LunaNet communications and navigation standards.
Spacecraft
Moonlight communications satellite
One communications spacecraft in the five-satellite constellation.
- Manufacturer
- Telespazio-led consortium
Moonlight navigation satellites
Four satellites providing lunar positioning, navigation, and timing services.
- Manufacturer
- Telespazio-led consortium
Lunar Pathfinder
Precursor relay satellite used to validate services before the full constellation.
- Manufacturer
- Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
Gallery
One image from Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services.
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