On January 22, 2025, NASA and the Italian Space Agency announced a significant milestone in their Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE). The experiment successfully acquired Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals and calculated a navigation fix at a distance of nearly 52 Earth radii, equivalent to over 205,674 miles (331,000 kilometers) from Earth.
This achievement demonstrates the feasibility of using Earth-based GNSS constellations for navigation over 90% of the distance to the Moon. By utilizing multiple GNSS constellations, including GPS and Galileo, LuGRE has established a new record for Earth-Moon signal distance.
As the mission advances, LuGRE will further explore navigation in deep space by tracking GNSS signals during its lunar transit, while in lunar orbit, and for up to two weeks on the Moon's surface. These experiments aim to provide insights into the potential of GNSS technology for future space missions.
During the Earth transit phase, the Firefly mission team has ensured the spacecraft's health and smooth operations. Recent visuals include remarkable footage of Earth eclipsing the Sun, offering a unique perspective from space.