Moonraker is a proposed space mission under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). If approved, it will place a small satellite equipped with a LiDAR instrument into a polar orbit around the Moon. Its measurements will be used to generate highly accurate elevation models of the lunar surface, intended to guide the selection of landing sites for future lunar lander missions. It will also explore permanently shadowed craters and other regions of scientific interest.
The "pre-Phase A" preparatory study, conducted by NUVIEW GmbH for ESA, began in November 2024.
The Moonraker spacecraft will be based on the DAUNTLESS-L platform, derived from the DAUNTLESS small satellite platform by the company SFL Missions. The spacecraft will be 3-axis stabilized using reaction wheels and cold gas reaction control thrusters. Its primary propulsion will be provided by monopropellant thrusters. Power will be generated by two deployable solar arrays.
The near-infrared LiDAR payload, developed by NUVIEW GmbH, will have two objectives: