Session
Weekday Session 2: Beyond LEO
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Lunar Communications Pathfinder is planned to enable small and large satellites and landers to carry out data intensive missions around the moon, without the need for complex and costly on-board communication equipment and access to global ground networks.
From the middle of this decade there are expected to be 5 to 15 active space missions on or around the moon, generating several GBytes of data per day. Lunar Communications Pathfinder is a commercial initiative with ESA and NASA as anchor tenants. The 300kg class small spacecraft is currently in manufacture for launch in 2025, and is aimed at alleviating pressure on the Deep Space Network. It will provide a commercial high speed communications service that will enable landers, orbiters, and even CubeSats to operate around the moon without requiring direct line of sight with the Earth. A small user terminal is in development as part of the service package, and a mission builder tool has been made available for planning purposes for prospective users. LCP provides a high speed intersatellite link back to Earth for a planned 8 year mission. The system is planned to be extended further with additional spacecraft, opening up the potential to provide a more comprehensive communications and navigation service.
Building on LCP, the ESA Moonlight initiative has contracted a study phase in order to develop the plans for the full constellation service beyond this initial spacecraft. LCP demonstrates how small satellites can provide innovative commercial services, and enable the ability for other small satellites and landers to carry out data intensive missions. This paper will detail the spacecraft, the system design trades, and how the service is expected to evolve.
Tweeting From the Moon
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Lunar Communications Pathfinder is planned to enable small and large satellites and landers to carry out data intensive missions around the moon, without the need for complex and costly on-board communication equipment and access to global ground networks.
From the middle of this decade there are expected to be 5 to 15 active space missions on or around the moon, generating several GBytes of data per day. Lunar Communications Pathfinder is a commercial initiative with ESA and NASA as anchor tenants. The 300kg class small spacecraft is currently in manufacture for launch in 2025, and is aimed at alleviating pressure on the Deep Space Network. It will provide a commercial high speed communications service that will enable landers, orbiters, and even CubeSats to operate around the moon without requiring direct line of sight with the Earth. A small user terminal is in development as part of the service package, and a mission builder tool has been made available for planning purposes for prospective users. LCP provides a high speed intersatellite link back to Earth for a planned 8 year mission. The system is planned to be extended further with additional spacecraft, opening up the potential to provide a more comprehensive communications and navigation service.
Building on LCP, the ESA Moonlight initiative has contracted a study phase in order to develop the plans for the full constellation service beyond this initial spacecraft. LCP demonstrates how small satellites can provide innovative commercial services, and enable the ability for other small satellites and landers to carry out data intensive missions. This paper will detail the spacecraft, the system design trades, and how the service is expected to evolve.
