Speaker
Description
The ESA NovaMoon proposal includes a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) transmitter as part of its longline geodetic payload suit on the surface of the Moon. A stable and consistent lunar reference frame is essential for geodesy, geophysics, and the success of future lunar missions, enabling precise positioning and long-term monitoring of lunar orientation and interior dynamics. To date, the fundamental selenodesy network relies primarily on passive Apollo-era retroreflectors, which, while valuable, cannot alone provide the accuracy and stability required for next-generation lunar science and exploration.
VLBI offers a unique capability: it is the only space geodesy technique able to simultaneously determine terrestrial and celestial reference frames. Installing a dedicated VLBI transmitter on the Moon would transform the Moon into a continuously observable VLBI target, in analogy to the GENESIS geodetic satellite mission. This capability, particularly when co-located with Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), would significantly enhance the lunar reference frame and support investigations into lunar orientation, interior structure, and fundamental physics. We present preliminary link budget analyses and expected performance of a lunar VLBI transmitter, together with its scientific objectives, functional design, and operational concepts.
