To be launched within five years?! The Chinese will long before that have produced something similar and returned the data already.
replyThe UK has to become a lot more active in getting this project to the launchpad.
Would a satellite positioned at Earth Moon L2 be stable enough?
It would also need a relay to communicate with earth…
replyIt takes a bit of stationkeeping to stay at L2; like keeping a ball at the top of a low, smooth hill - needs a nudge every now and then.
replyA circular Moon orbit can last years with no fuel use if you pick your inclination correctly. Look up "frozen orbits" (the Moon is lumpy)
RFSoCs seem like extreme overkill for this frequency range, though since Xiphos makes a space-grade one, it's not so unreasonable I guess.
replyAlas, I'm working on a competing project that I won't go into detail about :).
s/dark side/far side/
replyYou're generally correct, but in this particular instance it does actually make sense to call it the dark side. Dark, as in "quiet" from RF interference. Just like some areas on Earth, near radio observatories, are declared "dark" (i.e. everyone tries to avoid using high RF emitting stuff in these regions, even comms satellites avoid it).
reply> even comms satellites avoid it.
replyIf only ... Starlink is nominally "off' over the RQZ in W.Australia, but still leaking interference from not fully shielded electronics.
Starlink Coverage holes (3 years ago) - https://old.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/ymm6rv/starlink_c...
(July 2025) Starlink satellites disrupting astronomy research in WA's Murchison, study finds - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-25/starlink-satellites-d...
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replyDark side of the moon = the side opposite the sun, doesn't change here
replyIt's only facing away from earth, it can face the sun just fine. Rotation is every 4 weeks.
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