The LuGRE (Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment) instrument, designed by the Italian Space Agency in collaboration with NASA, has recorded a historic success: it has received GNSS signals from a distance from Earth never achieved before.
Just two days after launch, LuGRE exceeded all expectations, acquiring the first GNSS signal approximately eight hours after liftoff. The receiver, capable of operating on dual frequencies and in multi-constellations (GPS and Galileo), has established a new world record, receiving signals over 200,000 km from Earthfar exceeding the limit previously set by NASA.
This extraordinary result opens new perspectives for space exploration and, in particular, for lunar navigation. The use of GNSS signals could represent a solution in the short term pending the development of the ESA Moonlight satellite constellationdedicated specifically to communication and navigation on the Moon. Italy, as prime contractor of this project, once again confirms itself at the forefront in the space sector.
The success of LuGRE is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the Italian Space Agency, NASA and the Italian companies involved in the project. The receiver was created by the Qascom company, commissioned by ASI, with the scientific support of the Polytechnic of Turin. LuGRE was then integrated into the commercial Blue Ghost lander, developed by the US company Firefly under NASA’s CLPS program.
