The Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) payload, a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency, aims to demonstrate Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal reception on the lunar surface. This initiative coincides with the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and is part of NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program.
LuGRE will be delivered to the Moon under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. It will track signals from both the U.S. GPS and the European Union's Galileo GNSS constellations throughout its journey to the Moon, during lunar orbit, and for up to two weeks on the lunar surface.
This experiment marks a significant milestone in lunar navigation, potentially allowing spacecraft to utilize existing GNSS signals, thus reducing dependence on Earth-based ground stations. If successful, LuGRE could extend the range of GNSS signal acquisition, building on the previous record set by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission.
NASA's SCaN Program manager, Kevin Coggins, emphasized the importance of GNSS technology for future lunar missions, stating that it could enhance safety and operational viability on the Moon. The data collected by LuGRE will also be made available to the broader scientific community, promoting international collaboration in lunar exploration.
LuGRE is one of ten NASA-funded science experiments scheduled for delivery to the lunar surface, part of a broader effort to establish a sustainable lunar economy through partnerships with private companies.