A cosmic radio station might investigate the early universe from the Moon's far side.

      A UK startup is planning to establish a cosmic radio station in the Moon's orbit to detect radio waves from the early universe.

      Blue Skies Space has obtained a contract from the Italian Space Agency to create a fleet of small satellites designed to orbit the Moon and search for signals from the cosmic "dark ages." This period predates the formation of the first stars, when the universe consisted primarily of a swirling mass of hydrogen gas.

      Hydrogen atoms naturally produce radio waves at a specific frequency of 1420MHz, known as the hydrogen line. Over the course of 13 billion years of cosmic expansion, this signal shifts down to the FM radio band (around 88-108MHz).

      Detecting these ancient radio signals from Earth is nearly impossible due to all the radio interference. However, positioning some satellites on the far side of the Moon, away from this interference, could enable scientists to filter out the noise and gather insights from the early universe.

      This initiative is what Blue Skies Space, the Italian Space Agency, and space contractor OHB Italia will explore under the collaborative project called RadioLuna.

      Blue Skies Space will examine if small, cost-effective CubeSats—constructed from commercial, off-the-shelf components—can survive and conduct meaningful scientific research while orbiting the Moon. Meanwhile, OHB Italia will handle the spacecraft's construction.

      Mapping these signals could provide the missing link between the Big Bang and the first stars, illustrating how the universe transitioned from a smooth hydrogen fog to the cosmic web of galaxies we're familiar with today.

      Dr. Marcell Tessenyi, CEO and co-founder of Blue Skies Space, informed TNW that if the project proves viable, it could lead to a commercial service.

      “Depending on the technical feasibility, the funding environment, and the necessary infrastructure, we expect to be able to implement such a system within five years post-study,” he stated.

      RadioLuna is not the sole project Blue Skies Space is pursuing. In October, the startup is scheduled to launch its inaugural satellite into orbit. The probe—named Mauve—is a stargazing satellite aimed at collecting data on stars in the visible and ultraviolet spectrums. This data will then be accessible to scientists and academics for a nominal membership fee.

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