ArkEdge Space selected by JAXA to develop lunar navigation satellite system

Photo: ArkEdge Space

ArkEdge Space, a Japanese space start-up based in Tokyo, has been selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) under its Space Strategy Fund to lead the development of advanced lunar navigation technology.

Under the agreement, ArkEdge Space will plan and design the mass production and operation of micro-satellite constellations to lead the development of a next-generation Lunar Navigation Satellite System (LNSS), a vital component to the International “LunaNet” initiative driven by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA. LunaNet seeks to establish essential infrastructure to support sustainable lunar exploration and foster the growth of the lunar economy.

This program, supported by up to 5 billion yen ($32.5 million) over four years, tasks ArkEdge Space with developing a 100 kg class micro-satellite, developing crucial technology including the:

1.  Lunar navigation payload
2.  Demonstration satellite platform, along with a system operations plan
3. Establishment of an approach to mission evaluation

These efforts will help reduce development costs and timeframes while advancing core LNSS technologies and enabling the development of future lunar navigation system demonstration satellites, according to ArkEdge Space.

ArkEdge Space’s work on LNSS leverages its expertise in satellite technology and builds on its ongoing collaboration with JAXA. A key innovation of the project involves the use of faint GNSS signals, originally designed for Earth, to determine satellite position and time in lunar orbit—approximately 380,000 km from Earth. Additionally, LNSS complements advancements in low-Earth Orbit positioning navigation and timing (LEO-PNT) systems, designed to provide high-precision, robust navigation services globally, enhancing existing GNSS infrastructure.

As lunar exploration accelerates, high-precision infrastructure has become indispensable for activities such as rover navigation, base construction, and in-situ resource utilization. LNSS supports lunar operations and serves as a stepping stone for future exploration of Mars and deep space.