美国国家航空航天局（NASA）于7月13日向Intuitive Machines公司交付NavCube3-mini载荷，该载荷将集成至该公司首颗月球中继卫星Altus-1，标志着未来月球通信与导航服务开发的重要里程碑。此类月球中继系统旨在为NASA未来月球基地开展作业的宇航员及巡视器提供通信与导航支持。NavCube3-mini体积约为鞋盒的一半，重量仅3.5磅，是一款紧凑而功能强大的导航[…]

NASA delivered the NavCube3-mini payload on July 13 to Intuitive Machines for integration into Altus-1, the company’s first lunar relay satellite, marking an important milestone in the development of future lunar communications and navigation services. The lunar relays are designed to enable communications and navigation for astronauts and rovers operating at the agency’s future Moon Base. About half the size of a shoebox and weighing just 3.5 pounds, NavCube3-mini is a compact but powerful navigation […]

美国国家航空航天局（NASA）于7月13日将NavCube3-mini有效载荷交付予直觉机器公司（Intuitive Machines），用于集成至该公司首颗月球中继卫星Altus-1。此举标志着未来月球通信与导航服务发展进程中的一个重要里程碑。此类月球中继系统旨在为NASA未来月球基地内执行任务的宇航员及月球车提供通信与导航支持。 NavCube3-mini体积约为鞋盒的一半，重量仅3.5磅（约1.6千克），是一款紧凑而功能强大的导航接收器，专为在地月距离上接收并处理来自地球的全球定位系统（GPS）与伽利略全球导航卫星系统（Galileo GNSS）信号而设计。其功耗低于20瓦，与一台笔记本电脑相当，却可在地月轨道以外的深空环境中精确测定航天器位置。 该紧凑型有效载荷延续了NASA戈达德太空飞行中心（位于马里兰州格林贝尔特）一系列导航技术进展，每一项均将GPS导航能力拓展至距地球更远的新纪录距离。 NavCube3-mini将搭载于直觉机器公司的Altus-1月球中继卫星，该卫星是该公司依据与NASA签署的近地空间网络服务（Near Space Network Services）合同所规划的月球中继卫星网络中的首颗。该中继网络将为在月球运行的各类任务提供通信与导航支持，包括阿耳忒弥斯（Artemis）计划宇航员将于2028年着陆的、通信条件严苛的月球南极区域——在此区域，与地球的直接通信往往十分困难。通过扩展通信覆盖范围并提升导航服务能力，该中继网络将助力实现NASA关于在月球表面建立可持续人类存在的愿景。 在运抵直觉机器公司之前，NavCube3-mini已在NASA戈达德中心完成全面的环境与性能测试，以验证其具备执行太空飞行任务的能力。环境测试包括：振动测试（模拟发射工况）、热真空测试（模拟太空极端温度与真空环境），以及电磁兼容性测试（确保该有效载荷能与其他航天器系统共存，且不产生或遭受电磁干扰）。性能测试则在每次环境测试前后开展，采用高保真度仿真手段模拟NavCube在月球轨道上将接收到的GPS与伽利略信号，从而在整个测试周期内持续验证其功能与性能表现。 NavCube3-mini将在Altus-1任务中作为一项关键技术演示载荷，验证基于GNSS的导航技术在月球区域的可行性，并提供宝贵性能数据，以支撑未来月球导航基础设施的建设。此项技术属于NASA更广泛战略的一部分，即构建一套可同时兼容商业服务商与NASA自有网络的通信与导航服务体系。这些能力旨在支持日益壮大的月球生态系统，涵盖轨道器、着陆器、月球车，以及最终在月球上生活与工作的宇航员。 NavCube3-mini的交付，是构建长期月球探测所需通信与导航基础设施的又一重要进展。通过与直觉机器公司等商业服务商的合作，NASA正致力于打造一个连接更紧密、能力更完备的月球环境。随着月球周边活动持续增长，上述能力将使月球航天器与探索者能够更安全、高效、自主地运行。 凯瑟琳·绍尔（Katherine Schauer）系空间通信与导航（SCaN）计划办公室撰稿人，负责报道新兴技术、商业化进展、探索活动等相关内容。

NASA delivered the NavCube3-mini payload on July 13 to Intuitive Machines for integration into Altus-1, the company’s first lunar relay satellite, marking an important milestone in the development of future lunar communications and navigation services. The lunar relays are designed to enable communications and navigation for astronauts and rovers operating at the agency’s future Moon Base. About half the size of a shoebox and weighing just 3.5 pounds, NavCube3-mini is a compact but powerful navigation receiver designed to use signals from Earth-based GPS and Galileo Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) at lunar distances. Operating on less than 20 watts of power, roughly the same as a laptop computer, it can determine a spacecraft’s precise position far beyond Earth orbit. The compact payload builds on a series of navigation technology advancements developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, each extending GPS navigation to new record-breaking distances from Earth. The payload will fly aboard Intuitive Machines’ Altus-1 lunar relay satellite, the first of a planned network of lunar relay satellites being developed under the company’s Near Space Network Services contract with NASA. The relays will provide communications and navigation support for missions operating at the Moon, including the challenging lunar South Pole region, where Artemis astronauts will land in 2028, and where direct communications with Earth can be difficult. By extending communications coverage and improving navigation services, the relay network will help realize NASA’s vision for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. Before being shipped to Intuitive Machines, NavCube3-mini underwent an extensive environmental and performance test campaign at NASA Goddard to verify it is ready for spaceflight. The environmental testing included vibration testing to simulate launch conditions, thermal vacuum testing in the extreme temperatures and vacuum of space, and electromagnetic compatibility testing to ensure the payload can operate reliably alongside other spacecraft systems without causing or experiencing electromagnetic interference. Performance testing was conducted before and after each environmental test using high-fidelity simulations of the GPS and Galileo signals the NavCube will encounter in lunar orbit, verifying functionality and performance throughout the testing campaign. NavCube3-mini will serve as a key technology demonstration aboard Altus-1, validating the use of GNSS-based navigation in the lunar region and providing valuable performance data to support the development of future lunar navigation infrastructure. This technology is part of NASA’s broader strategy to develop communications and navigation services that work across both commercial providers and NASA’s networks. These capabilities are designed to support a growing lunar ecosystem that includes orbiters, landers, rovers, and, eventually, astronauts living and working on the Moon. The delivery of NavCube3-mini marks another step toward building the communications and navigation infrastructure needed for long-term lunar exploration. Through partnerships with commercial providers like Intuitive Machines, NASA is building a more connected and capable lunar environment. As activity around the Moon continues to grow, these capabilities will enable lunar spacecraft and explorers to operate more safely, efficiently, and autonomously. Katherine Schauer is a writer for the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program office and covers emerging technologies, commercialization efforts, exploration activities, and more.