Madrid: Spanish technology company GMV has unveiled LUPIN, a GPS-like navigation system designed to make lunar exploration as intuitive as using Google Maps or Waze.
The system is part of a European Space Agency (ESA) initiative to develop advanced positioning, navigation, and timing techniques for future lunar missions, ranging from scientific research and potential mining to tourism.
LUPIN uses signals from moon-orbiting satellites to provide real-time navigation, helping rovers and astronauts pinpoint their location on the moon’s surface. This marks a significant advancement, as current lunar navigation relies on complex calculations and data relayed from Earth, which are slow and imprecise.
Steven Kay, the project’s director, highlighted that, “With this software, we bring Europe closer to establishing a human presence on the moon and, potentially, this would be a stepping stone towards Mars exploration or human presence on Mars.” The technology is seen as crucial for enabling faster, safer missions to the moon and beyond.
GMV’s LUPIN, a GPS-like system for the Moon, just passed key field tests in Fuerteventura! A game-changer for future lunar missions!https://t.co/WNYXw7bHZt#PressRelease #SpaceInnovation #LunarExploration pic.twitter.com/3IHknHg3zl
— GMV (@infoGMV) May 9, 2025
GMV conducted field trials of the prototype in Fuerteventura, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, which has terrain resembling that of the lunar surface. The tests demonstrated the system’s ability to provide real-time location updates, reducing reliance on Earth-based communication systems, which are hindered by latency and visibility issues due to the moon’s position.
GMV’s technology addresses significant challenges in lunar navigation, such as the lack of real-time updates on the moon’s constantly changing surface. The company plans to integrate LUPIN with existing lunar cartography, adding data from satellites that focus on shadowed regions of the moon, such as the lunar south pole and the far side.
“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.
LUPIN marks a significant advancement in lunar exploration, with the potential to streamline mission operations, improve mission success, and support the long-term objective of establishing a human presence on the moon.
