If you’ve ever mistakenly veered off towards the Sea of Tranquility only to find yourself adrift in the Ocean of Storms, good news: The Moon is about to get something akin to GPS. GMV, a Spanish company with significant expertise in the aerospace industry, has been making strides in this area.
has announced
a guidance system for the Moon similar to GPS.
The ambitious initiative known as LUPIN is designed to assist astronauts, industrialists, and future inhabitants in navigating the moon’s terrain with greater ease.
a press release
For LUPIN, GMV highlights an issue with the present navigation systems on the Moon. The firm stated, “Current communications rely either on direct line-of-sight with Earth or through relays via satellites in lunar orbit. This setup creates areas without signal coverage and introduces delays, making real-time decision-making more challenging.”
GMV is collaborating with the European Space Agency on the development of LUPIN, a cooperative effort that dates back to GMV’s initial governmental agreement in 1984. This technology utilizes current satellites orbiting the Moon and employs signals akin to those used by GPS systems to assist both rovers and astronauts in determining their precise locations in real time on the lunar surface.
“The following are satellite transmissions intended for use similar to how we utilize GPS signals on our planet; however, these satellites will circle the Moon instead. The system will further be customized for specific zones of interest such as the lunar south pole, the moon’s far side, and perpetually shaded locales,” the firm explains.
In a
statement to Reuters
The project’s leader, Steven Kay, stated, “This software enables Europe to take a step toward placing humans on the Moon, which could also serve as a foundation for future missions to explore Mars or establish a human settlement there.”
Dailyexe has contacted GMV regarding inquiries about the precision of LUPIN, its core technological aspects, and its rollout plan. We will provide updates as soon as we receive their response.
