Extending satnav to the Moon

ESA’s navigation specialists are also involved in an ambitious attempt to extend satellite navigation and telecommunications coverage to the Moon through the Moonlight initiative. Beginning with a satnav receiver flown in lunar orbit aboard the Lunar Pathfinder mission, Moonlight will extend to a constellation of telecom and satnav satellites in lunar orbit.

With positioning and communication services available for all Moon missions, instead of requiring costly one-off support, lunar exploration will become much more sustainable. It will be as if the Moon has come closer, transformed into Earth’s eighth continent rather than a far distant world.

ESA’s Council at Ministerial Level

Next month ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher presents his proposals for the future of Navigation and all other ESA Directorates to Europe’s space ministers for approval, setting the course for Europe’s future in space. Find out more here.

More information or press enquiries:

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Navigation

https://vision.esa.int