Lunar Pathfinder

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

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.
• In October 2019, the Lunar Pathfinder mission was in its pilot phase and had its first business review successfully completed.
• In March 2023, the ESA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit via the Blue Ghost vehicle.

See also

• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References