The RadioLuna project aims to uncover whether a fleet of small satellites in a lunar orbit could detect faint radio signals from the universe’s earliest days
These signals are in the FM radio range and come from a time before the first stars formed, when the universe was mostly hydrogen gas. By listening from the far side of the Moon, free from Earth's radio noise, scientists could use the satellites to further their understanding of the cosmic ‘dark ages.’
In a statement, Dr Marcell Tessenyi, CEO and co-founder of Blue Skies Space, said: “The idea for this project stemmed from the global efforts to develop the lunar economy. Programmes by space agencies such as ESA Moonlight or NASA Artemis can provide the transport, communication and timing infrastructure to projects such as RadioLuna. We are grateful to the Italian Space Agency for funding this activity with our project partner OHB Italia to explore novel ways of delivering exciting science.”
The study will establish the viability of operating CubeSats equipped with commercial off-the-shelf components orbiting the Moon and will be led by Blue Skies Space Italia S.r.l., a subsidiary of UK-based Blue Skies Space Ltd. Project partner OHB Italia will be responsible for the definition of a viable platform in a Moon orbit.
“RadioLuna is a challenge where scientific ambition meets engineering pragmatism,” said Roberto Aceti, managing director of OHB Italia. “We are proud to contribute to the development of an observatory that could open new frontiers in our understanding of the early universe, bringing to the mission our expertise and our M3 platform.”
Dr Tessenyi continued: “We started Blue Skies Space to capitalise on the changes brought by the new space economy. RadioLuna is an excellent opportunity to showcase the benefits these bring to science.”
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