Engineering:Lunar Pathfinder

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Lunar Pathfinder
Mission typeLunar communications satellite
OperatorESA
Websitehttps://bsgn.esa.int/service/lunar-pathfinder/
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerSSTL
Start of mission
Launch dateNET 2026
 

Lunar Pathfinder is a future lunar communications satellite[1][2][3] and a precursor to the Moonlight constellation,[4] under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is expected to launch in 2026 with the Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2.[5][6]

Timeline

  • In April 2018, the ESA signed a collaboration agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) and Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) for Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services (CLMSS). The agreement included collaboration on the Lunar Pathfinder mission.[7]
  • In October 2019, the Lunar Pathfinder mission was in its pilot phase and had its first business review successfully completed.[8]
  • In March 2023, the ESA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit via the Blue Ghost vehicle.[9]

See also

  • List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References

  1. ↑ "Lunar Pathfinder for lunar connection" (in en). https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/10/Lunar_Pathfinder_for_lunar_connection. 
  2. ↑ "Lunar Mission Services from SSTL | Small Satellite supplier | Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd | SSTL". https://www.sstl.co.uk/what-we-do/lunar-mission-services. 
  3. ↑ "Lunar Pathfinder User Manual". https://www.sstl.co.uk/getmedia/edaaa697-405c-458d-8394-97f83130d54a/Lunar-Pathfinder-Service-Guide-V2-2.pdf. 
  4. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-03-13). "Thales Alenia Space to Build ESA Moonlight Satellites for Telespazio" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/thales-alenia-space-to-build-esa-moonlight-satellites-for-telespazio/. 
  5. ↑ "Blue Ghost Mission 2" (in en-US). https://fireflyspace.com/missions/blue-ghost-mission-2/. 
  6. ↑ "Lunar Pathfinder" (in en). https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/lunar-pathfinder.htm. 
  7. ↑ "ESA signs collaboration agreement for commercial Lunar missions" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ESA_signs_collaboration_agreement_for_commercial_Lunar_missions. 
  8. ↑ "A pathway for communicating at the Moon" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/A_pathway_for_communicating_at_the_Moon. 
  9. ↑ "Firefly to take Lunar Pathfinder to the Moon" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Firefly_to_take_Lunar_Pathfinder_to_the_Moon. 

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