Lunar Pathfinder

Lunar Pathfinder is a future lunar communications satellite and a precursor to the Moonlight constellation, under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). It is expected to launch in 2026 with the Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2.

Timeline

In April 2018, the ESA signed a collaboration agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) and Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) for Commercial Lunar Mission Support Services (CLMSS). The agreement included collaboration on the Lunar Pathfinder mission.
In October 2019, the Lunar Pathfinder mission was in its pilot phase and had its first business review successfully completed.
In March 2023, the ESA selected Firefly Aerospace to deliver Lunar Pathfinder to lunar orbit via the Blue Ghost vehicle.