ESA Moonlight

Viasat joined the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Moonlight project alongside program lead Telespazio, Viasat announced on March 25.

Moonlight aims to develop a lunar orbiting navigation and communication system that will enhance services for missions on the Moon’s surface and in lunar orbit.

The Moonlight communications system will transfer data on and around the Moon, and between Earth and the Moon. Future plans include supporting commercial activities like space tourism and manufacturing using lunar materials.

Viasat will design and develop the communication network, including providing a network for lunar landers, rovers, orbiters, and other technology. The company will also be responsible for Earth ground infrastructure and lunar surface user terminals.

Telespazio contracted Viasat for the initial design phase of the communication system. ESA will fully fund this work throughout Phase 1. The UK Space Agency, a major contributor to ESA’s Moonlight program, selected Viasat to lead the U.K. ecosystem in delivering communications capability. Moonlight services will be deployed in phases, with initial capability targeted for the end of 2028 and full operations aimed for 2030.

Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg said: “Moonlight is among the most forward-looking and exciting projects undertaken by the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. Alongside Telespazio, we look forward to supporting the space agencies by leveraging our commercial orientation, network engineering and operational skills, to reliably and securely support future generations of space exploration.”