Towards LunaNet Lunar Augmented Navigation Service (LANS) Interoperability Demonstration and Monitoring

The LunaNet is a lunar communications and position, navigation, and timing (PNT) framework that promotes the use of standards for interoperability among future service providers for lunar missions. NASA, ESA, and JAXA are partnering to develop the LunaNet Interoperability Specification (LNIS), including Applicable Document-1 Volume A defining the Signal in Space features for the Augmented Forward Signal (AFS), which are currently available online. Among the LunaNet PNT services described in the LNIS, the amalgamation of AFS from the service providers will form the Lunar Augmented Navigation Service (LANS) as a multi-laterally coordinated, lunar-focused radio navigation satellite system for upcoming lunar users such as crew, rovers, landers, science instruments, and orbiters. Given that LANS will consist of a minimum of four AFS transmitted in the direction of the Moon, there is a need for in-situ evaluation of performance against the LNIS and to provide assurance that the service enables safe and robust navigation of assets for human and robotic spaceflight operations. Toward achieving the critical objective for safe navigation, JAXA, ESA, and NASA are examining a joint LANS interoperability demonstration mission targeted for the 2028-2029 timeframe. Following a description of LunaNet, AFS, and LANS, the paper will provide the mission concept, plans, and objectives for the joint LANS demonstration.