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Satellite operator Viasat has joined the European Space Agency's Moonlight project, which aims to develop a lunar orbiting navigation and communication system.
Announced this week, Viasat has secured a contract with program lead Telespazio as the leading team behind the design and development of the network.
Viasat will also be responsible for the ground infrastructure on Earth supporting the network and user terminals intended for use on the Lunar surface.
"We're bringing our heritage and long-term skillset of cutting-edge innovation and ambitious space communications programs," Yasrine Ibnyahya, senior director of advanced concepts and technologies at Viasat told DCD . "Along with our longstanding connections working with space agencies all over the world, including ESA, UKSA, and NASA. Viasat is … best placed to develop these capabilities as more and more activities occur off-Earth."
The system will serve as a data highway on and around the Moon, as well as a cislunar gateway back to Earth, intended to support the expansion of scientific and exploration projects as well as the development of commercial activities like surface rare Earth materials manufacturing and tourism.
ESA will fully fund the contract throughout its first phase. The UK Space Agency, one of the major contributors to the program, selected Viasat, which opened a London office in 2024 as part of its Inmarsat acquisition, to lead the UK effort contributing to Moonlight.
"This marks a pivotal milestone in [Telespazio's] commitment to the Moonlight program," Gabrielle Pieralli, CEO of Telespazio said in a statement. "By partnering with a global leader in satellite communications, we can harness cutting-edge technologies to create a secure and efficient communications and navigation infrastructure — essential for the success of lunar missions."
Foundational demonstration will take reliable communications infrastructure, which has been a primary goal of the Artemis campaign.
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