NAVISP EL1-061 BIS "NAVIGATION PAYLOAD DEMONSTRATOR OF FUTURE LUNAR NAVIGATION SATELLITES"

Last Updated: 23/09/2025 13:23     Created at: 23/09/2025 12:17

Slides are now available! On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, a consortium led by Thales Alenia Space Italy presented the results of the NAVISP EL1-061 bis activity “Navigation Payload Demonstrator of Future Lunar Navigation Satellites”.

The project focused on developing and testing an Elegant Bread Board (EBB) for the Navigation Payload of future Lunar Communication and Navigation Systems/Moonlight satellites, including the critical functionalities identified for the future payload flight models.

The EBB has provided a good indication of the achievable performance of the payload and of the associated mass, power, size, environmental and interface requirements, confirming the payload’s suitability for the Moonlight system concept.

The following elements were included in the development:

• Navigation Payload fully tested
  • TT&C Subsystem
  • Timing Subsystem
  • Antenna
  • Signal Generation Unit
• Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) transmitter
• Laser Retro Reflectors (LRR)

The project was fully funded by NAVISP Element 1, which supports innovation and the generation of disruptive technologies across the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) value chain. The slides of the final presentation can be found here.