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Blue Skies Space and OHB Italia will build a small fleet of satellites for the Italian Space Agency to map the early universe from lunar orbit. . | Credit: Blue Skies Space
Italian Space Agency Awards Contract to Blue Skies Space for Lunar Satellite Mission
The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has commissioned Blue Skies Space, a European aerospace firm, to develop and deploy a constellation of satellites around the Moon. This ambitious project aims to map the early universe by detecting faint radio signals from a period known as the cosmic “Dark Ages.”
RadioLuna: Charting the Cosmic Dark Ages from Lunar Orbit
Blue Skies Space is collaborating with OHB Italia, another prominent space company, to construct the satellite fleet, designated RadioLuna. The RadioLuna mission is designed to ascertain whether compact satellites in lunar orbit can effectively capture subtle FM radio waves originating from the early universe, specifically the “Dark Ages” era before the emergence of the first stars, according to an official statement from OHB Italia.
Detecting Elusive Radio Signals from the Nascent Universe
Terrestrial detection of these primordial radio signals is exceedingly difficult due to significant levels of human-generated radio frequency interference. The proposed solution involves leveraging the far side of the Moon, which offers a uniquely radio-quiet environment shielded from Earth’s radio noise. This tranquil setting is anticipated to facilitate the detection of weaker cosmic radio signals. Should the satellites successfully detect these signals, researchers will gain a valuable tool to map and study the universe’s formative stages.
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“We express our gratitude to the Italian Space Agency for their support in funding this endeavor, alongside our esteemed project collaborator OHB Italia, to explore innovative methodologies for groundbreaking scientific discoveries,” stated Marcell Tessenyi, co-founder and CEO of Blue Skies Space. Specific details concerning the projected cost and launch timeframe for RadioLuna are not yet publicly available.
Tessenyi further elaborated that the RadioLuna initiative is rooted in the burgeoning global movement to establish a viable lunar economy. “Programs spearheaded by space agencies like ESA’s Moonlight and NASA’s Artemis could furnish crucial transport, communication, and precise timing infrastructure to facilitate projects such as RadioLuna,” Tessenyi added.
Cost-Effective Cubesat Design for Space Science Missions
The RadioLuna satellite network will employ small, standardized cubesats, incorporating readily available commercial components. This strategic approach emphasizes simplicity and cost-effectiveness in the design and manufacturing of the satellites.
OHB Italia’s Contribution to the RadioLuna Observatory Development
Roberto Aceti, Managing Director of OHB Italia, characterized RadioLuna as “a challenge where scientific aspiration converges with engineering pragmatism.” He affirmed OHB Italia’s pride in contributing to the development of an observatory poised to unlock new perspectives in our understanding of the early universe.