Lunar Pathfinder

Lunar Pathfinder

Mission type	Lunar communications satellite
Operator	ESA
Website	https://bsgn.esa.int/service/lunar-pathfinder/
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	SSTL
Start of mission
Launch date	NET 2026

Lunar Pathfinder is a future lunar communications satellite^[1][2][3] and a precursor to the Moonlight constellation,^[4] under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is expected to launch in 2026 with the Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2.^[5][6]

Timeline

• In April 2018, the ESA signed a collaboration agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) and Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) for Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services (CLMSS). The agreement included collaboration on the Lunar Pathfinder mission.^[7]
• In October 2019, the Lunar Pathfinder mission was in its pilot phase and had its first business review successfully completed.^[8]
• In March 2023, the ESA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit via the Blue Ghost vehicle.^[9]

See also

• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References

1. "Lunar Pathfinder for lunar connection". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
2. "Lunar Mission Services from SSTL | Small Satellite supplier | Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd | SSTL". www.sstl.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
3. "Lunar Pathfinder User Manual" (PDF). www.sstl.co.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
4. Parsonson, Andrew (2025-03-13). "Thales Alenia Space to Build ESA Moonlight Satellites for Telespazio". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
5. "Blue Ghost Mission 2". Firefly Aerospace. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
6. "Lunar Pathfinder". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
7. "ESA signs collaboration agreement for commercial Lunar missions". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
8. "A pathway for communicating at the Moon". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
9. "Firefly to take Lunar Pathfinder to the Moon". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-03-01.