Lunar Linkages: U.S. Aims to Forge Interoperable Space Communications

Objective 4: Implement Cislunar communications and positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities with scalable and interoperable approaches

Communications and PNT are the common information infrastructure for all activities in Cislunar space, including in Lunar orbit and on the Lunar surface. The United States government will use scalable, interoperable, and secure approaches for information infrastructure to enable a cooperative and sustainable ecosystem in Cislunar space.

The NASA Artemis program, with its near-term mission to return humans to the Moon, provides the foundational elements for this objective. Through the Artemis program, NASA and its international partners will use innovative technologies to explore more of the Lunar surface than ever before, for the benefit of all.[13] The U.S. government, in collaboration with allies, international partners, and private actors, will work to establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Lessons learned on and around the Moon will be used to take the next giant leap: sending the first humans to Mars.

This objective will ensure that the systems and infrastructure deployed for the Artemis program enable a cooperative and sustainable ecosystem in Cislunar space. U.S. Cislunar communications and PNT capabilities, if implemented with scalable and interoperable approaches, can meet requirements for NASA’s Artemis program, foster new commercial space activities and lower barriers to entry, and provide an early technological foundation for advancing responsible and sustainable activities in Cislunar space. To implement this objective, the potential future needs of all stakeholders planning activities in Cislunar space should be considered. The following sub-objectives support this objective:

Establish foundational capabilities in a timely fashion to enable a flexible Cislunar architecture. The U.S. government and private actors are planning new Cislunar activities, but there is insufficient information regarding the capabilities needed to support these activities. Beyond network communications and PNT, capabilities of interest include mapping, in-space and Lunar surface transportation, radio frequency spectrum management, in-situ mobility, Lunar surface power generation and storage, use of Lunar resources, search and rescue, and space situational awareness. The United States government will define the needed capabilities, to include consideration of the cybersecurity, scalability, and interoperability of associated systems. The level of needed capability will inform updates to this strategy and subsequent implementation plans.

Ensure that capabilities for U.S. government Cislunar operations are scalable and interoperable with systems operated by private and international actors. Architectures deployed for Cislunar operations should be designed to anticipate the emergence of innovative and unexpected future user requirements that cannot be predicted at present. Architectures with this kind of flexibility likely require the use of broadly adopted technical standards. The United States will lead in developing capabilities and technical standards that support maximally interoperable and scalable infrastructure, while ensuring cybersecurity, especially for Cislunar communications and PNT. Standards of particular interest include: those for PNT in Cislunar space, radio and optical communications, a Lunar reference frame tied to the celestial and terrestrial reference frames, spacecraft safety and rescue, and orbit message formats and propagation models in Cislunar space. Infrastructure adaptation should include modernization and expansion of numerous sensing, ranging, and timing technologies and techniques to enable integration of new space-based operations with existing infrastructure. Such standards efforts should leverage bottom-up approaches that build upon existing[14] and emerging standards for space systems, including input from non-government experts. U.S. government agencies will leverage and promote the use of interoperable and scalable commercial services in Cislunar space.

Coordinate new Cislunar activities with existing in-space operations. Ongoing space activities like planetary defense, space weather research and monitoring, orbital debris mitigation, and spaceand ground-based astronomy could begin to extend coordination to include consideration of new Cislunar development activities. The NSTC Subcommittee on Cislunar Science & Technology can help facilitate new U.S. government collaboration to advance Cislunar space priorities.

[13] Artemis I will fly an uncrewed flight test that will be the first in a series of increasingly complex missions to the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars. Artemis II will perform a crewed Lunar flyby mission. Many other robotic missions will be conducted to Lunar orbit and the Lunar surface, including an uncrewed human lander demonstration mission. Subsequent Artemis missions will see the first woman and first person of color land on the Moon. This program will be supported by smaller-scale pathfinder missions, such as the Tipping Point Technology Demonstrations and larger programs such as the Lunar Gateway. These missions will include early tests of the establishment of PNT and communications networks.

[14] International Deep Space Interoperability Standards, A partnership between International Space Station Agencies