Abstract
Aiming to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, interest in new and robust communication and navigation capabilities on the lunar surface is greater than ever before. In response, lunar navigation systems (LNS) have been conceptualized and put into action by space agencies. While we expect these services to be fully functional before the late 2020s, many missions are set to begin surface exploration before the initiation of these services. To meet the immediate needs of early missions, our group proposed a small-start technology demonstration mission called the Lunar Navigation CubeSat (LunaCube).The mission aims to demonstrate a LNS transmitter and store-and-forward radio in the vicinity of the Moon and to provide lunar positioning services to lunar surface assets. The project was initiated with funding support from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) and completed preliminary design and detailed design in 2021 and 2022 respectively. As a result of the design study, the satellites consist of a 6U-size structure, a 50W-class deployed solar panel, a X-band transponder, three-axis attitude control using a star tracker, sun sensors, gyro, reaction wheels, and reaction control system thruster, as well as orbit control using a water-based resistojet. The total wet mass is less than 14 kg.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
