NASA recently announced that it will cooperate with Finnish Nokia to develop the first 4G communication network on the moon. According to the contract, NASA will allocate US$14.1 million for the project, and Nokia will provide related equipment.
The establishment of a 4G network on the moon is part of NASA’s Artemis program.
It is a plan to return to the moon formulated by the United States, aiming to send the first female astronaut and 1 male astronaut to the moon in 2024, and in 2028 Establish a sustainable foothold on the moon, making it a “transit station” for mankind to land on Mars.
What is the significance of building a 4G network on the moon to the implementation of the “Artemis” plan?
According to a recent announcement issued by the US Space Agency, compared with the existing 4G standard, the 4G communication system developed in cooperation with Nokia will provide longer-distance and faster lunar communication with higher reliability.
This system can support communication between the lunar lander, lunar rover, habitat, and astronauts to facilitate astronauts to transmit data, remotely control the lunar rover, instant navigation, voice or video calls, etc.
Nokia Bell Labs stated on social media that after a special design, the 4G network they have
developed can withstand the extreme temperature, radiation and vacuum conditions of space
as well as the huge shocks generated during launch and landing on the lunar surface.
Not only that, Nokia pointed out in a communiqué that 4G networks are
essential for the long-term existence of mankind on the lunar surface.
It is reported that Nokia also plans to build a 5G network on the moon.
