Nokia will cover the Moon with high-speed 4G Internet
The once-popular mobile phone manufacturer Nokia is preparing to launch 4G technology on the moon. The system will be deployed during the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to launch in November 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The task of the project is to prepare the ground for future Artemis missions with the landing of the crew on the surface of a natural satellite of the Earth. Nokia is collaborating with Lunar Outpost and Intuitive Machines to develop a 4G communication system specifically designed to work in the harsh conditions of space. The Nova-C lunar lander, created by Intuitive Machines, will deliver equipment and other useful items to the Shackleton crater in the southern part of the Moon. This "test drive" could be an important component of future Artemis crewed missions, as NASA plans to land two astronauts on the surface of the satellite in 2025.
In 2020, Nokia received funding from NASA in the amount of $14.1 million. The company plans to test the lander's short-range and long-range communication capabilities at various distances, from several hundred meters to two to three kilometers. Nokia engineers are confident that this network will play a vital role in maintaining a human presence on both the moon and Mars in the future.
Astronauts will be able to use 4G internet during the Artemis 3 mission to expand voice and video communication capabilities, exchange telemetry and biometric data, sensor applications and control robotics. Most likely, the high speeds of the cellular network will reduce delays during telephone conversations with the Ground.
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