ESA and SSTL sign on the dotted line

摘要

THE EUROPEAN Space Agency (ESA) has signed a contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) for communications services from Lunar Pathfinder, due to launch in 2024. ESA will be the anchor customer for services from Lunar Pathfinder which will be the first dedicated lunar communications relay spacecraft when it launches in 2024. The agreement establishes ESA's first commercial lunar services contract to deliver new opportunities for lower cost lunar science, technology demonstration and exploration missions. In addition, ESA is working with NASA on an agreement by which the latter would launch and deliver the Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft into its operational lunar orbit in exchange for data-relay services for its own missions, making NASA one of the first users of Lunar Pathfinder services.