A pioneering GNSS receiver has successfully tracked Galileo and GPS signals and computed on board the Navigation Solution during lunar orbit and on the moon surface. This revolutionary mission proved that Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals can be acquired, tracked and even used for positioning on the Moon!
In a groundbreaking experiment, the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) has successfully acquired and tracked Galileo and GPS signals, during the BlueGhost 1 lander’s transit on the lunar surface. This marks a major milestone in space navigation and setting new records for space-based GNSS tracking and positioning.
Historic GNSS tracking and positioning from 0.4 million kilometres!
The LuGRE receiver locked onto Galileo and GPS signals and determined its position in real time using a terrestrial satellite navigation system, from an amazing distance of approximately 0.4 million kilometres in the E1/L1 and E5/L5 frequency bands.
The Blue Ghost 1 lander on the lunar surface after touching down on the moon. Credit: Firefly Aerospace
The mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center on 15 January 2025 and lasted for two months. It culminated in a smooth landing in Mare Crisium on March 2. The receiver was activated and captured its first signals on March 3, successfully acquiring and tracking four satellites (two GPS and two Galileo) and computing the first-ever GNSS position at the Moon’s surface.
A special GNSS receiver
The GNSS receiver architecture is based on a dual cold redundant configuration of Qascom LEO GNSS Space receiver. The antenna is a high gain directive one (peak gain up to 15 dB). From the software point of view, the receiver integrates high-sensitivity acquisition and tracking processing, and a custom Navigation Engine. The Galileo Antenna Pattern was used for the modelling of the scenarios in the Radio Frequency Constellation Simulator (RFCS) and the computation of Link Budget.
During the mission, the Galileo Ephemeris from the Time & Geodetic Validation Facility (TGVF-X) were up-linked to the LuGRE payload for acquisition aiding. For each experiment, the Galileo satellites constellation status was closely monitored using the status information available on the GSC website.
Benefits for all the Space and GNSS community
All the receiver telemetry data collected during the mission will be released to the public domain in before the end of 2025 for third-party analysis, research, and other purposes. This will bring concrete advantages to mission design, scientific analysis, navigation algorithm design and GNSS receiver manufacturers.
In addition, specific performance analyses of the Galileo signals (L1/L5) acquired in transfer orbit, in cislunar orbit and at the Moon’s surface (availability, CN0 Levels, other accuracy levels...) will be officially published by Science Teams of NASA and Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Samuele Fantinato from Qascom, states, “We have achieved a GNSS receiver technology proven (TRL9) in space and in Lunar Orbit/Surface. Qascom, as part of the Moonlight programme of ESA (under Telespazio Contract), has the responsibility for the Navigation User terminal that will be used to validate the Moonlight/LCNS navigation services for rovers, landers and Moon spacecraft. There will be hundreds of commercial & governmental missions going to the moon in the next decade”.
In summary, LuGRE experiment has proven that GNSS, combined with future Lunar PNT services, can effectively support the first phases of Lunar Exploration.
The LuGRE receiver was developed by Qascom for ASI, in partnership with NASA and supported by the Polytechnic University of Turin.
The cutting-edge receiver was one of ten payloads aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lander. The mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, showcased the strength of international space collaboration.
About Galileo
Galileo, the EU´s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), provides improved navigation, positioning and timing information. More than 4 billion users are already benefitting from Galileo.
The Galileo Programme is owned by the EU. The European Commission, as the Programme Manager, oversees the implementation of all activities. EUSPA is responsible for the operational management of the services, ensuring that they are delivered with the defined performance and without interruption. Galileo's system design and system evolution are entrusted by EUSPA to ESA .
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