Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the Moonlight programme, aiming to create a dedicated satellite network for telecommunication and navigation services on the Moon. This effort seeks to make lunar communication as seamless as it is on Earth.
Moonlight is a collaboration between ESA, space systems developer Telespazio, and the UK and Italian space agencies. The project will provide vital services such as satellite navigation, video conferencing, and data sharing on the Moon.
The Moonlight network will consist of five satellites—four dedicated to navigation and one for high-data-rate communications. These will connect the Moon to Earth via three ground stations over a span of 4,00,000 km, focusing on the lunar south pole.
The programme aims to support precise lunar landings, surface mobility, and long-term human presence on the Moon. By providing high-speed, low-latency communication, it will reduce operational costs for future missions.
The first stage of Moonlight will see the launch of the Lunar Pathfinder in 2026, developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). The satellite will offer commercial data relay services and test Earth-based navigation systems for lunar use.
Full deployment of the Moonlight network is expected by 2030, establishing an essential infrastructure for both government and commercial missions to the Moon.
ESA is collaborating with NASA and JAXA to ensure that Moonlight is compatible with the LunaNet framework, creating a global lunar communication and navigation system for all space agencies and private companies.
The programme was officially introduced at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, with ESA and Telespazio leaders highlighting its significance for the future of lunar exploration. The first lunar navigation interoperability tests are scheduled for 2029.