Lunar Infrastructure
Translating Earth Infrastructure for the Moon
Trends in Lunar Exploration and Industry Development
With NASA’s Artemis program leading international space exploration efforts, human habitation and economic activities are expected to expand to the Moon, paving the way for businesses to establish a new lunar economy.
For rovers and base habitats to autonomously operate on the Moon, fundamental infrastructure such as communications and PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing) is essential. Europe and the USA are advancing these plans, Japan is developing an integrated architecture for lunar communications and navigation called the Lunar Navigation Satellite System (LNSS).
Realizing Lunar Infrastructure with Cutting-Edge Technology
Currently, lunar navigation satellites are primarily developed by governments.
ArkEdge Space, as a private company, is developing a lunar navigation satellite system, encompassing from satellite bus systems to the lunar navigation payload, in collaboration with government, private sector, and academia. Our goal is to provide navigation and communications infrastructure for the lunar economy through advanced technology development.
Lunar Navigation and Communication Architecture
- Navigation and communication services using an 8-satellite constellation*1
- Main Service Area: Near the lunar South Pole.
- Target Accuracy: Less than 40 meters in horizontal radius.
Lunar Navigation Demonstration Satellite
- Demonstrate orbit and time determination based on GNSS*2 reception in the lunar region
- Evaluate lunar navigation signal transmission and reception
- Satellite Specifications
– Size: 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm
– Weight: Approximately 100 kg - Launch Schedule: 2028 ~ 2029
*1: A satellite constellation refers to a coordinated group of satellites operated together as a system.
*2: GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a collective term of satellite-based navigation systems, including GPS, and is operated by the USA, Europe, Japan, India, Russia, and China as of 2024.
Experience and Achievements: EQUULEUS
- A 6U CubeSat developed by JAXA and the ISSL at the University of Tokyo, designed for technology and science demonstration in cislunar space.
- Successfully launched on November 16, 2022, as part of NASA’s Artemis I mission.
- EQUULEUS, one of the ten CubeSats deployed from Artemis I, has achieved notable success and is the only one to have achieved full success criteria.ArkEdge Space supported the initial operation of EQUULEUS and contributed to its success.
