The Exploration Company to Test Lunar Hopper Demonstrator in 2027

What happened

The Exploration Company has announced it will test a lunar hopper demonstrator called ONEIROS in the United Arab Emirates in 2027. The company plans to build a one-tonne demonstrator that will use a throttleable methane-fuelled […] The post The Exploration Company to Test Lunar Hopper Demonstrator in 2027 appeared first on European Spaceflight .

The company plans to build a one-tonne demonstrator that will use a throttleable methane-fuelled rocket engine, autonomous navigation, and hazard-avoidance systems to demonstrate the capabilities needed for controlled landings on the Moon. According to the abstract of a paper presented at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Türkiye, work on the project began earlier this year. ONEIROS is a privately funded initiative focused on validating technologies that could eventually support lower-cost access to the lunar surface.

Key facts

• The Exploration Company has — announced: it will test a lunar hopper demonstrator called ONEIROS in the United Arab Emirates in 2027