Latest news with #LUPIN
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Spanish Firm Launches Lunar Navigation System
MADRID (Reuters) — Spanish technology company GMV has unveiled a GPS-like navigation system for the moon that aims to make lunar missions as intuitive as a drive across town with apps such as Google Maps or Waze. Called LUPIN, the project is part of a program by the European Space Agency to test new positioning, navigation and timing techniques as interest in lunar surface exploration picks up again, whether for scientific research, potential mining opportunities or even future tourism. 'With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars,' Steven Kay, the project's director, told Reuters. The new technology was put to the test in the otherworldly landscapes of Fuerteventura — one of Spain's Canary Islands — where GMV conducted field trials with the prototype in a part of the Earth that bears some resemblance to the lunar surface. By using signals similar to GPS from moon-orbiting satellites, LUPIN would allow rovers and astronauts to pinpoint their location on the moon in real time. Currently, navigating the Earth's largest natural satellite is difficult, as spacecraft on its surface have to rely on complex calculations and data relayed from Earth — which is neither quick nor precise. 'Communication depends on direct visibility with Earth or the use of relay satellites in lunar orbit, which create communicative shadow zones and latency times that hinder immediate decision-making,' GMV said in a statement. The lack of real-time updates on changes in the moon's terrain caused by recent impacts or lunar dust movements also hinder ground trips on the satellite. The company wants to combine existing lunar cartography with information gleaned from moon-orbiting satellites targeting dark spots, such as the lunar south pole and the 'far side,' the area generally in shadow. 'We want these rovers to map the surface of the moon in a fast and safe way so that astronauts can return in a few years, work there and set up permanent bases,' said GMV's head of strategy, Mariella Graziano.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New GPS-Like System For The Moon Could Be An Astronaut Version Of Waze
GPS-based navigation apps, like Google Maps and Waze, have essentially rendered every prior form of navigation obsolete. While it's difficult to imagine life without these services, imagine being an astronaut 238,900 miles from the nearest intersection. Spanish tech conglomerate GMV unveiled a GPS-like system for the Moon last week called LUPIN. Unlike during NASA's Apollo missions, the European Space Agency-backed project would provide real-time location information to astronauts and rovers. Space agencies can't just copy-paste the technologies we use here for our GPS systems on Earth for a similar service on the Moon. First, there isn't a fleet of GPS satellites orbiting the Moon. NASA aims to establish a network of communication relay satellites in conjunction with the Artemis program to assist a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. LUPIN would operate using NASA's Lunar Communication Navigation System. GMV validated its system after an 11-day field testing campaign on Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands. Read more: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Is All About Big Numbers Currently, lunar navigation is done using onboard inertial navigation systems, optical cameras and lidar sensors. Vehicles on the surface have to be able to operate independently because their only communications link is with Earth. This isn't ideal because of delays caused by distance and the lack of coverage on the far side of the Moon. LUPIN would free up valuable vehicle computing power for other tasks. Optimistically, the system would be able to provide real-time updates on the lunar terrain to make agencies aware of changing conditions, like moon dust drifts and meteorite impacts. Despite the current financial and technological perils impacting the Artemis program, NASA is still preparing to send astronauts across the lunar surface in a new rover. The new Lunar Terrain Vehicle will be far more robust than its Apollo-era counterpart. The three companies building new rovers will also be required to drive autonomously, meaning that LUPIN will be a vital aspect of living on the Moon. No mission engineer wants to deal with a rover that rolled over after climbing a boulder that didn't appear on decades-long satellite imagery. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
The South African
13-05-2025
- Science
- The South African
GPS on the moon: New system could be a ‘stepping stone' to Mars
A new form of GPS on the moon aims to make journeys on its surface as easy as a drive across town on Earth. The technology has been developed by Spanish company GMV. According to Reuters , the technology has been developed as part of LUPIN, a project run by the European Space Agency. The agency aims to develop navigation technology for the moon as lunar surface exploration continues to be a hot topic. Furthermore, it's not just scientists who want to navigate the moon. There has been renewed interest in potential mining opportunities and future tourism on the moon, making the need for new tools all the greater. LUPIN receives signals from satellites orbiting the moon. These signals, which closely resemble GPS, help rovers and astronauts to mark their location on the lunar surface in real time. Having something like GPS on the moon represents an advance in communication available to scientists working on the lunar surface. Current systems are slow and imprecise, with one method requiring direct visibility of the Earth. Furthermore, the new technology was tested in Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. It's an area that shares certain characteristics with the moon. Having a system like LUPIN will allow humans to establish more bases in the solar system. GMV hopes that, by mapping the moon accurately, astronauts will be able to establish permanent bases there. But developing something like GPS on the moon also brings dreams of Mars exploration closer. Speaking to Reuters, project director Steven Kay said: 'With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
GPS on the moon: Spanish firm launches lunar navigation system
Spanish technology company GMV has unveiled a GPS-like navigation system for the moon that aims to make lunar missions as intuitive as a drive across town with apps such as Google Maps or Waze. Called LUPIN, the project is part of a programme by the European Space Agency to test new positioning, navigation and timing techniques as interest in lunar surface exploration picks up again, whether for scientific research, potential mining opportunities or even future tourism. "With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars," Steven Kay, the project's director, told Reuters. The new technology was put to the test in the otherworldly landscapes of Fuerteventura - one of Spain's Canary Islands - where GMV conducted field trials with the prototype in a part of the Earth that bears some resemblance to the lunar surface. By using signals similar to GPS from moon-orbiting satellites, LUPIN would allow rovers and astronauts to pinpoint their location on the moon in real time. Currently, navigating the Earth's largest natural satellite is difficult, as spacecraft on its surface have to rely on complex calculations and data relayed from Earth, which is neither quick nor precise. "Communication depends on direct visibility with Earth or the use of relay satellites in lunar orbit, which create communicative shadow zones and latency times that hinder immediate decision-making," GMV said in a statement. The lack of real-time updates on changes in the moon's terrain caused by recent impacts or lunar dust movements also hinder ground trips on the satellite. The company wants to combine existing lunar cartography with information gleaned from moon-orbiting satellites targeting dark spots, such as the lunar south pole and the "far side", the area generally in shadow. "We want these rovers to map the surface of the moon in a fast and safe way so that astronauts can return in a few years, work there and set up permanent bases," said GMV's head of strategy, Mariella Graziano.
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Science
- Business Recorder
GPS on the moon Spanish firm launches lunar navigation system
MADRID: Spanish technology company GMV has unveiled a GPS-like navigation system for the moon that aims to make lunar missions as intuitive as a drive across town with apps such as Google Maps or Waze. Called LUPIN, the project is part of a programme by the European Space Agency to test new positioning, navigation and timing techniques as interest in lunar surface exploration picks up again, whether for scientific research, potential mining opportunities or even future tourism. "With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars," Steven Kay, the project's director, told Reuters. The new technology was put to the test in the otherworldly landscapes of Fuerteventura - one of Spain's Canary Islands - where GMV conducted field trials with the prototype in a part of the Earth that bears some resemblance to the lunar surface. By using signals similar to GPS from moon-orbiting satellites, LUPIN would allow rovers and astronauts to pinpoint their location on the moon in real-time. Currently, navigating the Earth's largest natural satellite is difficult, as spacecraft on its surface have to rely on complex calculations and data relayed from Earth - which is neither quick nor precise. "Communication depends on direct visibility with Earth or the use of relay satellites in lunar orbit, which create communicative shadow zones and latency times that hinder immediate decision-making," GMV said in a statement. The lack of real-time updates on changes in the moon's terrain caused by recent impacts or lunar dust movements also hinders ground trips on the satellite. The company wants to combine existing lunar cartography with information gleaned from moon-orbiting satellites targeting dark spots, such as the lunar south pole and the "far side", the area generally in shadow. "We want these rovers to map the surface of the moon in a fast and safe way so that astronauts can return in a few years, work there and set up permanent bases," said GMV's head of strategy, Mariella Graziano.
