Will future astronauts on the Moon be able to send selfies and texts using an LTE/4G cellular communication system?
This network, whose first module could be launched as early as this year, will be integrated into Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, scheduled to land at the Moon's south pole. Nokia's equipment will connect the Nova-C lunar lander from Intuitive Machines with Lunar Outpost's MAPP rover and the autonomous hopping robot Micro-Nova to test its viability at different distances.
Artist's rendition of Lunar Outpost's MAPP rover with Nokia's antennas deployed. Images, data, and telemetry collected by MAPP will be sent back to the Nova-C lander via a Nokia 4G/LTE network, then transmitted to Earth.
Credit: Nokia/Intuitive Machines
Thierry Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, emphasizes the importance of communication, equating it with shelter, food, and life support for future lunar or Martian missions. Instead of creating a proprietary network in space, Nokia is adapting its proven terrestrial technologies for lunar conditions.
In 2020, NASA awarded Nokia and 13 other companies contracts to develop cutting-edge technologies for the Artemis program, assigning Nokia a budget of $14.1 million to establish the first cellular network on the Moon. This network will offer higher bandwidth than traditional ultra-high frequency (UHF) systems, accelerating communications among astronauts and for autonomous robotic systems. It could also be adapted for Mars and evolve towards 5G.
Thierry Klein foresees a future where the multiple annual lunar missions, led by various space agencies and private companies, will use a common infrastructure to link all bases on the lunar surface, a more economical approach than setting up separate communication systems for each mission.
Credit: Nokia/Intuitive Machines
However, some radio astronomers express concerns that this network could disrupt radio observations. But Nokia could safeguard certain frequencies to avoid this issue.