The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected two consortia to conduct preliminary studies for a potential future communication and navigation constellation around the Moon known as Moonlight. The opportunity is open to Canadian companies and MDA UK is participating.
ESA describes the initiative as “a bold proposal to create a commercially viable constellation of lunar satellites,” and it is. It’s also a good idea. If humanity is to have a permanent presence on the Moon as we do now in low Earth orbit, we’ll need the resources to support that presence. Communication and navigation services will be essential.
ESA noted that part of its support to the NASA led Artemis mission includes the “ESPRIT communications module for the Lunar Gateway’s living quarters.” As well, with European commercial partners, ESA is moving forward with the Lunar Pathfinder mission which will showcase lunar communications services and provide “initial services to early lunar missions, including a complete lunar navigation in-orbit demonstration.” Moonlight initiative will build on the ESPRIT and Lunar Pathfinder missions.
Two Moonlight consortia
The two consortia selected to provide detailed definitions are led respectively by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited and Telespazio.
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited’s team includes Airbus, SES, Kongsberg Satellite Services, the Goonhilly Earth Station in the UK and GMV-NSL.
Telespazio’s team includes Thales Alenia Space, MDA UK, OHB Systems, Hispasat, Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering Company (ALTEC), Argotec, Nanoracks Europe, the Politecnico Milano and the Università commerciale Luigi Bocconi.
In an email, the Canadian Space Agency told SpaceQ that there may be future opportunities to participate in Moonlight.
“ESA recently awarded two Phase A contracts as part of its Moonlight initiative and Canadian organizations were allowed to participate for its initial phase given Canada’s collaboration with ESA. MDA UK is involved as a subcontractor to Telespazio in one of those studies. Based on the results of the two Phase A contracts, ESA may include Moonlight following phases in their program offerings at the next ministerial meeting to be held at the end of 2022. If this is the case, a Canadian participation will be assessed as part of CSA’s vast consultation process to be done in 2022. This is when we’ll decide in which proposed ESA programs Canada will invest such that Canadian organizations could become eligible. Thus, Canadian organizations may or may not be eligible for following phases of Moonlight depending on this decision. Given ESA procurements are excluded from CETA, Canadian organizations are not allowed to participate under CETA.”
Taking advantage of this opportunity was MDA Space and Robotics Ltd (MDA UK). In a press release MDA stated “MDA UK’s role in the consortium is twofold: first, to support the development of the business case by performing a market analysis of North American commercial and government organizations that could become future customers of such a service, and second, to develop and define a baseline systems concept that supports the space segment communications requirements for the user needs identified in the market analysis.”
“The contract is for the next stage of project development over 17 months. Upon completion of this 17 month study phase, ESA will then review the study to inform how it proceeds towards the next stage, including satellite and ground segment procurement, in late 2022.”