Lockheed Martin is taking a giant leap in lunar infrastructure by launching a spinoff company called Crescent Space. Its aim is to provide reliable communication systems for the long-term presence of humans on the Moon. The company’s first project is a satellite network called Parsec, which will connect the Moon and Earth through a constellation of small lunar satellites. The network will provide a non-stop connection between astronauts, their equipment, and people back home. Furthermore, Parsec will also help with navigation, making it an essential tool for future lunar missions.

Moon

One of the most significant benefits of Parsec is its lunar equivalent to GPS, which will provide astronauts with their precise positions and directions back to base. This technology will help keep explorers in touch with Earth and assist with spacecraft course changes. Moreover, it will be crucial for those on lunar soil, helping a rover crew to return home without driving into dangerous craters.

Lockheed Martin plans to have Crescent’s first Parsec nodes operational by 2025, with the company providing the satellites. While the startup may seem premature, with NASA‘s Artemis program not conducting a lunar flyby until late 2024 and a landing at the end of 2025, the company is well-positioned to support NASA’s Artemis Moon landings and other exploratory missions. CEO Joe Landon, formerly a Lockheed Martin Space VP, is optimistic about the future of the startup, hoping to profit from the increasing interest in lunar missions.

Lockheed Martin’s move to create Crescent Space and the launch of Parsec marks a significant advancement in lunar infrastructure. The company’s involvement in the space race is likely to benefit both private and national efforts to explore the Moon, with the technology providing reliable communication and navigation systems for lunar missions.

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