On August 10, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) revealed its plan to develop a cutting-edge telescope. This device is set to be part of a mission scheduled for a 2027 launch. The telescope’s main goals include helping choose future moon landing sites, mapping out mineral resources on the lunar surface, and potentially identifying challenges from deep space that could pose threats to Earth.
The new telescope project combines efforts with the Department of Defense and Firefly Aerospace, a private rocket company. Together, they aim to revitalize the U.S. lunar exploration program, which has been largely inactive for decades, and stake a claim in the briskly evolving space exploration market.
According to Ben Bahney, who leads the program at LLNL, “The demand for space-related services is exploding, especially compared to just over 15 years ago.” He emphasized the challenge in racing against such tight deadlines even though this project won’t have human involvement. “The key to speeding up the development of these monolithic telescopes lies in our manufacturing process that’s really figured out the toughest engineering challenges.”
The telescope will utilize a patented “monolithic” design, featuring a single piece of glass uniformly bonded to telescopic mirrors. This innovative setup will be integrated with Firefly’s orbital vehicle named Elytra Dark. Once it’s officially operational, the “Ocula service” provided by Elytra Dark is expected to offer advanced telescoping capabilities, serving both defense and commercial purposes.
Jason Kim, the CEO of Firefly Aerospace, stated in a press release, “Ocula is set to be among, if not the first, commercial lunar imaging services available. Our offerings aim to fill crucial gaps in our nation’s lunar imaging and pave the way for sustainable commercial practices.”
The global space exploration industry is rapidly expanding, currently valued at $630 billion according to a report by global consulting firm McKinsey. They anticipate this market could hit a staggering $1.8 trillion by 2035. Upgrading lunar imaging methods—especially at scale—will be vital for attracting investment and driving innovations in this area.
The new 20-kilogram telescope is one of LLNL’s most significant accomplishments so far, nearly approaching the weight limits of traditional telescopes while maintaining operational powers close to some top telescopes worldwide. In the next 13 months, LLNL’s team plans to roll out two of these optical instruments along with a specialized electronics module powered by an NVIDIA processor.
However, achieving this ambitious timetable is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in current lunar pursuits. As more nations solidify their lunar ambitions—the Chinese space program has launched a relay satellite and is planning a manned moon landing before 2030— and India recently celebrated its landmark landing at the moon’s South Pole, the U.S. is keen to have surveillance measures in place.
Collaboration between LLNL and Firefly is poised to support NASA’s Artemis initiative, which seeks to create a lasting human presence on the Moon in preparation for future manned missions to Mars. Later this year, the Artemis II mission is set for a crewed launch, with the aim of landing on the Moon’s South Pole by mid-2027.
Bahney remarked on the challenges what lies ahead, stating, “Next year’s lunar mission will be quite ambitious. The thermal and radiation conditions we’ll encounter in lunar orbit can be troublesome. We’re intensely focused on finding solutions to those challenges… Getting to the moon isn’t a walk in the park.”
The expenses, however, present another hurdle. The U.S. hasn’t returned to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, largely due to mounting costs. The price for a launch from the Kennedy Space Center can soar above $2 billion, as noted by a 2019 U.S. Office of Management and Budget memo. Conversely, advancements in commercial space endeavors have led to significant reductions in launch costs—SpaceX, for example, conducts Falcon 9 launches three times weekly for around $62 million.
Bahney explained that the LLNL telescope’s unique 10-inch lens design minimizes past issues often faced by conventional telescopes. Classic models like the Hubble or James Webb typically utilize two pieces of glass that require precise positioning—leading to costly repairs. Hubble, for instance, suffered from a main mirror defect when launched in 1990, incurring around $50 million for subsequent fixes.
He divulged, “One reason our telescope will be beneficial is its design—since the entire component is cast from a single piece of glass, it can’t be misaligned, a significant advantage for operational efficiency.”
Moreover, LLNL’s project has captured the Department of Defense’s attention. They see the need for a responsive orbiter consistently ready to adapt to various issues in lunar orbit. “This is referred to as the Sinequone Project—meaning ‘absolutely crucial’ in Latin,” Bahney pointed out. “The Defense Department believes this telescope capability is a must-have as it prepares for the inevitable demand for deep-space imaging and surveillance.”
Originally Published: August 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT
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