Moonlight Initiative

The Moonlight Initiative or the Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS)^[1] is a project by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the goal of creating uninterrupted telecommunications satellite coverage between Earth and the Moon, as well as lunar satellite navigation, facilitating future lunar projects.^[2] LCNS is a partnership between ESA and an industry consortium led by Telespazio, with support from the UK Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency.^[3]

Logo of the ESA's Moonlight Initiative.

Lunar south pole terrain

Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station

Goals

The stated end goal of the Moonlight project is to make it easier for institution and companies to build infrastructure (i.e. mining, utilities, power, etc.) on the Moon, culminating in a sustained long-term human presence.^[4] LCNS is intended for enhancing efficiency and reducing costs of lunar operations.^[3] ESA intends to work in partnership with NASA and JAXA in creating lasting telecommunications and navigation links with the moon,^[5] involving the adoption of the LunaNet specifications.^[6][3]

Spacecraft

The communications relay satellite Lunar Pathfinder, set for launch in 2026,^[7][8] will serve as a precursor to the full LCNS constellation. The complete constellation will consist of five lunar satellites: one focused on communications ("COMSAT") and four on navigation ("NAVSAT-1" to "NAVSAT-4").^[3][9] The orbits of the LCNS satellites will be designed to prioritise coverage of the lunar south pole area.^[3] The COMSAT satellite will have an orbital period of 12 hours and a semi-major axis of about 6,000 km. The NAVSAT satellites will have an orbital period of 24 hours and a semi-major axis of about 10,000 km. All LCNS satellites will be placed on Elliptical Lunar Frozen Orbits (ELFOs) in order to keep a constant eccentricity, inclination, and argument of pericenter.^[9]

Timeline

• In April 2018, ESA has signed a collaboration agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) for Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services (CLMSS). The agreement includes collaboration on the Lunar Pathfinder mission.^[10]
• In October 2019, the Lunar Pathfinder mission was in its pilot phase and had its first business review successfully completed.^[11]
• In July 2020, ESA announced a call to companies for expressions of interest to contribute to commercial satellite services for the Moon.^[12]
• In May 2021, the Moonlight Initiative was officially announced.^[13]
• In March 2023, ESA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit via the Blue Ghost vehicle.^[14]
• In February 2023, ESA expressed interest in creating international lunar timekeeping standards and stressed their importance for LCNS and similar projects.^[15]
• In June 2023, The first satnav receiver designed to operate in lunar orbit has been delivered to SSTL in the UK for integration aboard the Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft.^[16]
• In October 2023, ESA launched "a competition for visionary business ideas" for how to use LCNS, and expects to offer contracts to develop such ideas.^[4]
• In November 2024, ESA officially commenced the LCNS programme at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.^[3] At this event, ESA signed a contract worth 123 million euro with Telespazio to manage the development of LCNS.^[17]
• In March 2025, Telespazio has awarded a contract to Thales Alenia Space to build the four satellites and to develop elements of the system’s ground segment.^[18] ESA and JAXA have signed a statement of intent detailing future cooperation within the LunaNet framework.^[19] ESA has also selected Viasat to lead the lunar orbiting satellite communications portion of the Moonlight Initiative, alongside Telespazio.^[20] Viasat will design and develop the end-end service, covering the satellites, ground segments, and user terminals.^[21]
• In July 2025, two UK companies—SSTL and MDA Space UK—joined the Moonlight initiative to work with Viasat.^[22]

See also

• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
• Argonaut lunar lander
• Coordinated Lunar Time