An artist’s impression of Lunar Pathfinder, a pioneering satellite developed with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). As the first step of ESA’s Moonlight programme, Lunar Pathfinder will provide reliable communication services around the Moon, supporting future lunar missions such as NASA’s Artemis and ESA’s Argonaut.

Moonlight aims to establish Europe’s first dedicated satellite constellation for lunar telecommunications and navigation. This week, the programme officially began with a contract signing at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan.

Lunar Pathfinder will ensure seamless connectivity between lunar missions and Earth, enabling continuous communication between astronauts, robots and ground mission control. The satellite will also host experiments to explore the use of Earth’s satellites for lunar navigation as well as collect radiation data around the Moon.

Currently being assembled at SSTL's facilities in the UK, Lunar Pathfinder will undergo rigorous environmental testing before its launch no earlier than 2025 on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost vehicle.