Nokia, in collaboration with SpaceX, is preparing to send 4G internet service to the Moon during an upcoming space mission. The technology is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space and will be deployed during Intuitive Machines’s upcoming IM2 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to launch in November.
4G Technology Paves the Way for Lunar Discoveries
According to a blog post by Nokia, the 4G network will be critical for “any sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars in the future.” The network is expected to enhance “voice and video communications capabilities, telemetry and biometric data exchange, sensing applications, or controlling robotics” during the Artemis 3 mission. Nokia’s 4G technology could pave the way for further lunar discoveries and create opportunities for human presence on the Moon and beyond.
A Step towards Human Presence on Moon and Mars
As humanity looks for ways to expand its reach beyond Earth’s atmosphere, having reliable communication networks will be vital. The news of Nokia partnering with SpaceX to send 4G network equipment is undoubtedly a step forward in this direction. The high-speed internet could be a reality on the Moon later this year if the development goes well. The company hopes to assist with further explorations and experiments to find ice on the Moon that could provide breathable oxygen for astronauts, drinkable water, and rocket fuel.
Nokia Plans to Launch Network on Moon via SpaceX Rocket
Looking towards broader implementation of their network in late 2023 via a SpaceX rocket, Nokia intends their establishment of a lunar-ready network that provides “critical communication capabilities for many different data transmission applications including vital command and control functions, remote control of lunar rovers, real-time navigation, and streaming of high definition video.” This aims at making it easier for astronauts to communicate with colleagues and remote control their equipment irrespective of their distance from the mission control.
The Role of Nokia in Space Missions
Nokia has been working closely with other technology companies to create a communication network that is tailor-made for space requirements. This network is designed to help astronauts communicate more effectively on the Moon and beyond, enabling real-time data transmission between mission control and remote-controlled vehicles like rovers. Nokia’s principal engineer, Luis Maestro Ruiz De Temino, announced the news at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona while explaining how it will rely on new devices including an antenna-equipped base station stored in a Nova-C lunar lander designed by Intuitive Machines and a solar-powered rover.
Conclusion
In conclusion, appropriate communication networks are indispensable in space missions, especially on far-flung bodies like the Moon. Amid growing efforts to explore celestial bodies beyond Earth’s orbit, Nokia’s partnership with SpaceX to deploy 4G internet services is certainly a step forward in humanity’s quest for new frontiers.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
