Lockheed Martin, a leading aerospace contractor, has established a new subsidiary company, Crescent Space Services, to offer a range of commercial space services, including communications and navigation around the Moon.
The company’s flagship offering is called Parsec, a network of two satellites that will provide continuous connectivity between Earth and lunar destinations, particularly the South Pole, where NASA is planning to send its Artemis astronauts. The satellites will launch as a rideshare in 2025.
Crescent Space Services intends to sell its services to both NASA and commercial customers that are developing lunar landers, rovers, habitats, and mining operations. The company’s CEO, Joe Landon, said that Parsec will provide game-changing communications and navigation capabilities that will enable more efficient and reliable operations on the Moon. He also noted that Lockheed Martin has invested in commercial space for a long time and has significant expertise and capabilities that can be leveraged for the lunar market.
The creation of Crescent Space Services reflects Lockheed Martin’s adaptation to the changing market and customer preferences in the space industry. With NASA shifting from buying hardware and systems to buying services from commercial providers, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin recognized the need to have a compelling commercial services offering to remain competitive and relevant.
The company, which has been building NASA’s Orion spacecraft for deep space exploration, is now positioning itself as a provider of commercial space services to meet the demands of the growing lunar economy.
In addition to Parsec, Crescent Space Services is open to partnering with other companies that share its vision of expanding humanity’s presence in space. The company’s expertise and capabilities in aerospace and defense, combined with its commercial focus, make it a unique player in the space industry. As space exploration and commercialization continue to evolve, Crescent Space Services is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of space.
