Phone signals on Earth can be unreliable, but imagine trying to make a call from the Moon.
The European Space Agency is working to change that with a new mission called Moonlight. This project aims to improve communication between the Moon and Earth by sending satellites to orbit the Moon. These satellites will help future astronauts talk to Earth and also set up a satellite-navigation system to guide explorers across the lunar surface.
The Moonlight mission will launch five satellites. Four will handle communication, and one will be used for navigation. Together, these satellites will form a network or “constellation” around the Moon. They will connect to Earth through three special ground stations, covering the 400,000-kilometer distance between the two worlds. The first satellite will start operating in 2026, with the full network expected to be ready by 2030.
This project is important because many missions to the Moon are planned soon. NASA’s Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2026, aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since 1972, including the first woman. ESA also plans to build lunar technology like the Argonaut lander, which will help various spacecraft land safely.
Right now, the Moon has no communications systems like phones or GPS, which makes exploration more difficult. Moonlight will solve this problem by offering essential tools for astronauts and robots.
oooh very interesting