Pair of lunar relay satellites providing communications and navigation support in cislunar space — S-band command/telemetry, Ka-band lunar proximity uplink, X-band downlink.
Alpine & Lupine Lunar Relay Satellites
Pair of lunar relay satellites providing communications and navigation support in cislunar space — S-band command/telemetry, Ka-band lunar proximity uplink, X-band downlink.
Description
Alpine and Lupine are a pair of lunar relay satellites providing communications and navigation support in cislunar space, featuring bi-directional S-band command/telemetry, high-speed Ka-band lunar proximity uplink, and X-band downlink. After completing their primary mission, they circularize into a High Circular Polar Orbit for near-global lunar coverage focused on polar regions, with simultaneous Earth and lunar-South-Pole visibility per lunar day.
Specifications
| Command/telemetry | Bi-directional S-band |
|---|---|
| Lunar proximity uplink | High-speed Ka-band |
| Downlink | X-band |
| Final orbit | High Circular Polar Orbit (HCPO) |