SFL Missions Inc. is a member of the team led by NUVIEW GmbH that has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a Pre-Phase A study, within a new scheme for Small Exploration Missions, for the Moonraker lunar mapping mission. The Moonraker satellite will carry a laser scanner to create a detailed elevation map of the Moon’s surface.

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Artist's rendering of Moonraker, a smallsat mission that will map the lunar poles in unprecedented detail and de-risk future landing sites. [Credit: NUVIEW]

The Moonraker mission will consist of a single orbiter operating in a low-altitude polar orbit around the Moon. The orbiter will host a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) payload to capture highly accurate elevation points of the terrain. These points will be used to generate 3D elevation models that will be relied upon to assess and select future landing sites.

Moonraker’s LiDAR data will also serve a broader scientific purpose, including scanning permanently shadowed regions for water ice and providing valuable insights into the Moon's geological and interior composition. The Moonraker LiDAR will operator in two modes – one for broad-area scanning of the Moon’s polar regions and the other for high-resolution surveys of specific areas of interest.

“As part of the Pre-Phase A contract led by NUVIEW, SFL Missions is supporting the mission concept by contributing to transit trajectory analysis, orbit design, and satellite platform conceptual design for Moonraker,” said Jesse Eyer, NUVIEW Space Missions Architect. “We’re proud to collaborate on advancing this visionary lunar LiDAR initiative.”

The mission analysis evaluates possible launch options and trajectories for efficiently entering into lunar orbit, and it studies how the operational orbit parameters impact the spacecraft design and payload data collection. The system design focuses on payload accommodation, spacecraft layout, and sizing of the various subsystem components. In particular, the propulsion system is sized with the appropriate amount of fuel to complete the transit phase and then maintain the operational orbit while counteracting perturbations caused by the Moon’s irregular gravity field. Detailed mission and system requirements are also developed to guide future design phases for the project.

NUVIEW GmbH of Berlin, Germany, serves as prime contractor for the Pre-Phase A study team, which includes several members in addition to SFL Missions. NUVIEW GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of NUVIEW Inc. which is developing the world’s first commercial space-based LiDAR constellation for 3D mapping of the Earth.

About SFL Missions Inc. (https://sflmissions.com)

SFL Missions Inc. generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL Missions consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. We build quality small satellites at low cost that work the first time and enable NewSpace companies to mass produce through our Flex Production program. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. We arrange launches globally and maintain a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL Missions is a key enabler to tomorrow’s cost-aggressive satellites and constellations.

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About NUVIEW

NUVIEW is a pioneering geospatial technology company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, building the world’s first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation. Our mission: to deliver a continuously updated 3D map of the Earth’s land surface from space. As the first mover in space-based LiDAR, we’re combining cutting-edge satellite, sensor, and software innovations to unlock unprecedented global insights.

NUVIEW’s integrated data platform empowers users to access and analyze high-resolution elevation models and imagery, including optical, SAR, hyperspectral, and thermal, across a wide range of applications, from climate science and infrastructure planning to agriculture, forestry, and national security. Backed by a team with deep technical expertise and a track record of commercial success, NUVIEW is shaping the future of Earth observation.

Learn more at nuview.space and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

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