A UK-based space company, Blue Skies Space, has been selected by the Italian Space Agency to design a fleet of satellites that will orbit the moon. These satellites aim to detect faint radio signals from the early universe, a time less than a million years after the Big Bang. This mission could offer crucial insights into the cosmic “dark ages” and how the universe evolved before the first stars appeared.
Exploring Signals from the Cosmic Dark Ages
The project will focus on detecting radio signals from a time when the universe was composed largely of hydrogen gas, long before the formation of stars. These signals, which fall within the FM radio range, are incredibly weak and difficult to detect from Earth due to interference from man-made radio transmissions.
The far side of the moon provides an ideal location for this type of study. Free from Earth’s radio noise, the moon’s far side offers a quiet zone for sensitive radio telescopes. According to Dr. Marcell Tessenyi, CEO of Blue Skies Space, the company’s mission will provide a rare opportunity to explore large-scale cosmic structures that formed in the early universe. “Detecting these signals from Earth is nearly impossible due to interference,” Tessenyi said.
A €200,000 Design Study to Map the Universe’s Origins
The Italian Space Agency is funding a €200,000 design study to determine whether four or more satellites can work in concert around the moon to capture these elusive signals. The satellites would form a unique formation in lunar orbit, designed to pick up radio emissions from the universe’s early stages, offering researchers unprecedented access to one of the most challenging and mysterious periods in cosmic history.
Rising Interest in Lunar Radio Astronomy
Lunar radio astronomy has gained increasing attention in recent years. NASA’s recent deployment of the ROLSES-1 telescope on the Odysseus lander, despite some initial setbacks, proved the feasibility of space-based radio telescopes on the moon. The lander, which faced some technical difficulties upon touchdown last year, still allowed the telescope to function, paving the way for future lunar missions.
Later this year, NASA, alongside the US Department of Energy, plans to launch the LuSEE-Night mission. This small radio telescope will operate on the moon’s far side, further solidifying the growing momentum for lunar-based astronomy. Additionally, there are long-term plans to construct a much larger radio telescope on the moon. This ambitious project would involve deploying robots to install a wire mesh across the inside of a lunar crater, which could enable highly detailed cosmic observations.
A Cost-Effective Approach with CubeSats
Blue Skies Space’s proposed solution involves using CubeSats, small, low-cost satellites made from commercial off-the-shelf components. These CubeSats are designed to orbit the moon and collaborate with the European Space Agency’s Moonlight programme, which is creating a satellite network for lunar navigation and communication.
By integrating with Moonlight’s infrastructure, the CubeSats could maintain stable orbits and easily transmit their data back to Earth. This practical approach offers a more affordable and scalable method to conduct high-level space observations, significantly reducing the cost and complexity of such ambitious lunar missions.
Potential for Groundbreaking Discoveries
If successful, the project has the potential to unlock new insights into the formation of the universe. Blue Skies Space’s mission could provide the first detailed observations of the universe’s earliest structures, enabling scientists to piece together the cosmic history and answer fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of our universe.
In partnership with the European Space Agency and other global space organizations, Blue Skies Space is paving the way for future space-based astronomy and potentially revolutionizing our understanding of the universe’s early days. With the proposed satellite fleet, the company hopes to open a new window on the cosmos that could deepen humanity’s understanding of the universe.
