Slowly preparing the soil for the arrival of the first LTE Wireless Network (4G) To the moon. The goal is to optimize communication with the lunar surface for critical missions.

This is a project that Nokia is working on with NASA. The company was chosen by a special agency to carry out this mission, as it was announced in 2020. Two years later, more details on this initiative are coming.

Intuitive Machines is also involved in this project, a company that is building unmanned rovers for the mission that will use Nokia’s LTE network. In fact, the company recently submitted a test request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for communication in the 1700-1800 MHz band.

The 4G system will reach the satellite with a Space X rocket. The launch will take place in 2023. “Our enhanced LTE equipment for space will be integrated into the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander and Lunar Outpost MAPP rover, which in turn will launch into space with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,” predicted Nokia scientist Holly Rubin. , In a recently published blog.

Throughout the project, from announcement to launch, the company will focus on testing, as the system, which includes the base station and other components, will have to travel several kilometers in space.

“Basically, we conducted three types of tests: acceleration, impact, and vibration. While all the hardware items went through several rounds of testing, our base station really went through even more. For example, we shake the base station on the shaking tables. We lifted the base station into the air and then lowered it to make sure nothing broke. “We even place the base station in a giant centrifuge that simulates the acceleration forces experienced during launch.”

The most difficult is the stage at which the rocket splits And until it crosses the Earth’s atmosphere. After overcoming this challenge, there will be vibration and acceleration, it will not be as pronounced as in the first ten minutes of the flight that occurs during launch.

Any LTE network, except the base station, has fluid That in the event of a vacuum being boiled, those fluids would be replaced by solid components. Also avoid using materials that release gases when exposed to a vacuum to prevent them from being deposited on the device and damaging it.

The specialist concludes that the tests will continue taking into account these difficulties Whereas any loss of components can lead to damage or even the inability to establish a network on the moon. Clearly, progress has been made since this announcement two years ago and today, and the plan is to launch a space mission in 2023.

What is the purpose of launching 4G on the moon

The idea is to provide a communication system with the Earth to get the information collected on the lunar surface in the shortest possible time. This can be especially useful in critical missions. NASA member Hillary Smith explained this in a post a few months ago:

“A small rover designed by Lunar Outpost will travel more than a mile from the Nova-C Lander and test Nokia’s wireless network over various distances. The rover will connect to the base station located on Nova-C while the landing transmits the data to Earth. This demonstration could pave the way for a commercial 4G / LTE system for mission-critical communications on the lunar surface.. This includes communications and even high-definition video streaming from astronauts to base stations, from cars to base stations, and more.

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