19/12/2025
ATLAR has joined Aldoria (France), Lift Me Off (Luxembourg), and Odysseus (Luxembourg) in an international consortium to develop the LUCID Project (Lunar and Cislunar Identification and Detection). This is an ambitious initiative that aims to address the growing security and tracking challenges in cislunar space by enhancing our ability to detect and monitor spacecraft operating between Earth and the Moon. As a fully integrated part, ATLAR brings its expertise in astrodynamics and data integration to help design advanced strategies for space surveillance and orbit tracking.
A key focus of this Project is developing advanced methods to track satellites as they transition from Earth to the Moon. The consortium is working on integrating data from both radar and optical sensors into sophisticated algorithms that enhance orbit determination and satellite characterization. By identifying patterns tied to fuel efficiency and dynamic behavior, these methods allow for earlier detection of cislunar transfers, sometimes even before the maneuver begins.
Other key component of the project is to design cislunar patrolling strategies and secure communication links. LUCID will develop models for spacecraft capable of monitoring key orbital regions between Earth and the Moon, as well as around the Moon itself. These patrol spacecraft will play a vital role in detecting and responding to potential threats, supported by a communication framework that links satellites and ground stations into a unified, responsive surveillance network. As part of this effort, ATLAR and Aldoria will apply their expertise in radar and optical space surveillance to enable early tracking. Using a distributed network of RF sensors and robotic telescopes across Europe, they will gather observation data to refine spacecraft position estimates and inform future tracking phases.
