Constructing an optical lunar navigation system based on spacecraft made by Lavochkin association

The paper discusses the problem of developing an optical system for global positioning on the Moon to within one meter designed to service a limited number of users. It was demonstrated that the optimal solution of the problem would be to continuously monitor the positions of laser light beacons on the lunar surface from on-board an artificial satellite of the Moon equipped with an onboard TV camera, as well as from onboard a spacecraft placed at the L1 and L2 Lagrange points of the Earth-Moon system. The paper demonstrates the feasibility of a global lunar optical navigation and communications system based on space systems projects that are being developed at NPO Lavochkin: Spektr-UV observatory, lunar spacecraft Luna-25 and Luna-26. The use of these space systems will make it possible to start working in realistic terms on the navigation/communications system as a part of the future engineering infrastructure for lunar exploration.