On 29th May 2026, Telespazio announced that it had completed an Earth-Moon-Earth (EME), or moon bounce, communications demonstration. The EME communication method uses radio signals sent from a ground transmitter, reflected by the Moon’s surface, and received back on Earth. The EME path is about 384,000 kilometers each way.
The test was conducted at the Lario Space Centre, where technicians used a parabolic antenna that normally talks to geostationary satellites roughly 36,000 kilometers away. The exercise showcased the Italian site’s capabilities in radio-astronomical communication and space experimentation, highlighting its technical readiness for cross‑space activities.
The antenna involved in the test is called LARIO 1. It features a 32‑meter diameter and a movement system that allows it to point, track, and trace objects such as artificial satellites, planets, and galaxies visible from the Lombardy teleport. More to the point, this kind of work fits into a broader effort led by Telespazio, with significant support from Leonardo. Transmissions were on the 5 GHz band. The antenna on the receiving end was a 2.4-meter dish, a size commonly used by radio amateurs for EME communications.
Telespazio serves as the prime contractor for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Moonlight programme. Moonlight aims to create a dedicated communication and navigation infrastructure in lunar orbit, marking a first of its kind for Europe. In October 2024, Telespazio signed the LCNS (Lunar Communication and Navigation Services) contract with ESA, coordinating a European consortium that includes both industrial and academic partners. The plan envisions a five‑satellite constellation in cislunar space to support future human and robotic missions. It would enable precise lunar landings, surface navigation, and rapid communications between the Moon and Earth. The inaugural satellite, Lunar Pathfinder, is planned to reach orbit in 2027, with full system operation targeted for 2031.
The Moon-bounce experiment occurred during the closing ceremony of the second edition of the “There’s Mail for E.T.” competition. This event was organized by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and supported by the University of Urbino Carlo Bo, DIGIT srl, AMSAT Italia, and the Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE) at the University of L’Aquila.
Published by James Hydzik
James Hydzik is a technology geek focused on the junction of engineering, writing, and coffee. He joined Orbital Today in 2020 to help make sense of the Johnson government’s decision to buy OneWeb. Since then, he has taken on interviewing and editor-in-chief roles. James learned the ropes of editing and writing with Financial Times magazines, The World Bank, PwC, and Ericsson. Thus far, interviewing New Space movers has put the biggest smile on his workaday face. The son of an Electrical Engineer, James understands the value of putting complex topics into clear language for those with a lay person’s understanding of the subject. James is a European transplant from the United States, and as ex-KA3LLL, he now holds European amateur radio licenses. His next radio project is a portable 10GHz EME (moonbounce) station, as it combines his childhood interests in antennas and space.