ATLAR Joins International Consortium for the LUCID Project

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 ambitious initiative 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 an integral part of the consortium, ATLAR brings its expertise in astrodynamics and data integration to help design advanced strategies for space surveillance and orbit tracking.

A key focus of the project is the development of advanced methods to track satellites as they transition from Earth to the Moon. The consortium is working to integrate data from both radar and optical sensors into sophisticated algorithms that enhance orbit determination and satellite characterization. By identifying patterns related to fuel efficiency and dynamic behavior, these methods could enable earlier detection of cislunar transfers, potentially even before a maneuver begins.

Another key component of the project is the design of 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 an important role in detecting and responding to potential threats, supported by a communication framework that links satellites and ground stations into a unified and 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.