Tech Desk 
May 11, 2025
An undated image. — Pexels
In a move likely to change how astronauts will navigate the the Moon in future, GMV, a Spanish tech firm, has introduced a prototype of a lunar navigation system called LUPIN, which has been designed to work much like GPS on Earth.
Aiming to simplify lunar exploration by enabling real-time positioning for lunar rovers in future missions, the project was developed under the European Space Agency's latest space tech initiative.
“We want these rovers to map the surface of the moon in a fast and safe way so that astronauts can return in a few years, work there and set up permanent bases,” said Mariella Graziano, GMV’s head of strategy.
The lunar navigation system has recently been tested on Spain’s Canary Island of Fuerteventura, which is said to be chosen for its rocky terrain similar to that of the lunar surface, according to Reuters.
To provide rovers and astronauts with accurate location data, LUPIN utilises signals from satellites orbiting the Moon, removing the need for time-consuming calculations transmitted from Earth.
“With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a presence of humans on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars,” said project director Steven Kay.
As of now, lunar navigation depends heavily on Earth-assisted communications, which often undergo delays and are more likely to experience signal blackouts.
