Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is actively involved in a groundbreaking lunar imaging project in partnership with Firefly Aerospace.

A cutting-edge telescope system developed by LLNL will be installed on Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle to facilitate Firefly’s innovative Ocula imaging service, expected to launch in 2026. This initiative represents the first commercial lunar imaging service, offering unparalleled ultraviolet and visible spectrum images of the Moon from lunar orbit.

The LLNL telescope system can achieve resolutions of up to 0.2 meters of the lunar surface from an altitude of 50 kilometers, enabling detailed mapping of mineral deposits, precise site selection for future landings, and improved situational awareness in cislunar space.

By utilizing LLNL’s expertise in rapid optical telescope development, Firefly’s Ocula service will contribute to both scientific exploration and national security objectives.

Ben Bahney, LLNL's space program leader, stated, “LLNL is providing our optical telescopes to support this new commercial lunar imaging service for mapping and domain awareness. This collaboration is significant for LLNL due to our involvement in lunar exploration and analysis of lunar samples from the Apollo missions."

Firefly’s Ocula service will be activated on Elytra Dark, initially serving as a transfer vehicle for Blue Ghost Mission 2, set to launch in 2026. Following the deployment of Blue Ghost, Elytra will continue to orbit the Moon for over five years, utilizing LLNL’s telescope system to capture crucial imagery for human and robotic lunar missions.

LLNL is supplying the system to Firefly as part of a collaborative research and development agreement. Future missions, including Blue Ghost Mission 3 scheduled for launch in 2028, will further enhance the utilization of LLNL’s telescope systems in lunar orbit.

Nathan Golovich, LLNL’s project scientist and astrophysicist, mentioned, “There is a wealth of scientific opportunities with an imaging payload like this. By partnering with Firefly, we can bring our sensors directly to where they are needed for groundbreaking exploration and research.”

The combined ultraviolet and visible imaging capabilities will enable researchers to detect mineral concentrations like ilmenite, indicating the presence of helium-3, a potential energy resource for the future. The extended mission duration also positions the system to observe significant lunar events, including the potential 2032 flyby of asteroid 2024 YR4.

Tina Dinh, LLNL's Oculus project leader, stated, “Firefly’s Ocula service presents an exciting opportunity for LLNL to adapt our technologies for commercial applications. We are integrating our optical telescopes and electronics with Firefly’s Elytra vehicle, with valuable lessons learned that will benefit our national security efforts while generating new data for scientific exploration.”

“As lunar exploration progresses, LLNL continues to lead in innovation, driving new scientific discoveries and supporting upcoming space missions,” Bahney added.