UK space firms to develop communication and navigation services for future lunar missions
- Country:
- United Kingdom
The UK space agency has announced £51 million in funding for UK companies to develop communication and navigation services for future Moon missions.
The funding is part of the European Space Agency's Moonlight initiative that seeks to encourage private space firms in Europe and Canada to put a constellation of lunar satellites around the Moon from 2028, which will allow future astronauts, rovers and science missions to communicate, share large amounts of data including HD video, and navigate safely across the lunar surface.
Companies participating in ESA's Moonlight programme will be able to develop services for the agency while being free to sell lunar services and solutions to other agencies and commercial ventures.
The UK is one of the two leading international investors in ESA's Moonlight programme, alongside Italy. The new funding is part of the UK's £207 million commitment to ESA telecommunications programmes, which was announced during the Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris in November 2022.
"These endeavours are more international and more commercial than ever before – and by playing a leading role in the ESA Moonlight programme, we are opening up significant opportunities for UK companies to build on their extensive expertise in satellite technology and benefit from the new lunar economy," said Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.
We're providing £51 million to develop UK communications and navigation for future Moon missions. 📡🛰️👩🏽🚀Part of @ESA's #Moonlight programme, we're opening up the UK's satellite expertise to the Moon and playing a lead role in the lunar economy. 🛰️🌕👉 https://t.co/cU43UmY1cB pic.twitter.com/F6JRGkxsxh
— UK Space Agency (@spacegovuk) March 4, 2023
As lunar missions are becoming more frequent, there is an increased need for shared telecommunication and navigation services to the Moon. This will reduce the design complexity and make individual missions more cost-efficient.
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