This is a guest post. The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent positions of IEEE Spectrum, The Institute, or IEEE.
Although it might seem as though there is intense interest right now in exploring Mars, many people don’t realize how important the moon is in getting to the Red Planet. A number of countries are invested in commercial space ventures to the moon and establishing a lunar economy.
During the next 20 years, a significant number of missions are expected, with approximately half being national endeavors and the other half privately funded commercial missions. The missions will be far more extensive than those of the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of short visits and flag-planting, missions are planned to create a more sustained presence on the moon. The possibility of establishing semipermanent bases, conducting scientific experiments, mining, and resource utilization are being explored.
To achieve those ambitious goals, advanced communication systems are crucial. It’s not about astronauts sharing pictures on social media; it’s about facilitating complex operations, enabling seamless collaboration, and supporting scientific advancements and economic endeavors.
I want to delve into the collaboration between the telecom industry and space exploration. The telecom industry’s expertise in networking technologies has opened up numerous untapped possibilities that can be harnessed for space missions.
I spoke with IEEE Fellow Thierry E. Kleinvice president of strategic partnerships at Nokia Bell Labs which, along with NASA and Intuitive Machineshas constructed the first cellular network for the moon. I’ve been following the project for the past year and a half.
Klein is an expert in networking technologies. Bell Labs has a long history of innovation in telecommunications and has played a vital role in revolutionizing communication on Earth. The company is now poised to adapt and customize the technologies for lunar missions.
The IM-2 Mission Lander (named Athena), which launched on 26 February and it is believed the spacecraft landed on the moon on 6 March near Shackleton Crater on the moon’s south pole, a scientifically significant region for the search for water and ice. Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System is being deployed on Athena, connecting with other payloads on the mission. One of the payloads is a rover to explore the lunar surface and communicate with the lander through Nokia’s 4G network. Another payload is a hopper designed to enter a crater and search for water and ice. Nokia aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of its communication technology and enable scientifically relevant missions. (As of 7 March, the mission teams reported the spacecraft might have landed in an incorrect orientation.)
The challenges of a lunar environment
Nokia’s mission on the moon is a technology demonstration, showcasing to NASA and the space industry that telecom technology can be deployed, operated, and performed effectively on the moon. Nokia has adapted a commercial off-the-shelf product for the lunar environment, customizing and integrating it to meet the needs of lunar missions. Klein says the company reduced the network components’ size, weight, and power consumption and adjusted the network to fit the lunar environment.
The space industry primarily relies on ultrahigh frequency (UHF) technologies and satellite communication, but Nokia is looking to validate and prove the adaptability of its telecom technology for lunar missions.
The mission, Klein says, focuses on demonstrating how cellular technologies can operate in extreme environments. The IM-2 launched during lunar daytime—which posed certain challenges, particularly in terms of thermal management. The equipment is not expected to survive the lunar night’s harsh conditions.
To address that, Nokia developed radiator designs to ensure the technology remains operational.
Another significant challenge is radiation, Klein says. Not all the components are fully radiation-hardened, but Nokia has implemented strategies for shielding and reliability, including a dual-hardware redundant system and software capabilities that automatically detect and reboot faulty equipment.
The equipment has undergone extensive testing to withstand the mechanical stresses of launch and landing. Shock, vibration, and acceleration tests were critical components of the development process, Klein says.
Significant efforts have been made to simulate lunar conditions in testing environments, he says, to address the challenges of temperature extremes, radiation, and logistics. That includes collaborations with NASA to align radio frequency propagation models, ensuring accurate predictions for network performance on the lunar surface.
Nokia has conducted test runs in locations with volcanic landscapes, including Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and mountains in Colorado. The simulations are designed to emulate the challenges faced on the moon, allowing Nokia to calibrate its models against real-world data.
Klein acknowledges the likelihood of unexpected challenges once the technology is operating on the moon. The true test, he says, will come when the company can validate its models with actual measurements from the lunar surface.
Nokia has been exploring the deployment of networks in extreme environments since 2018, Klein says, with the ambition to solve hard technical problems, combined with the belief that advanced communication capabilities are essential for space missions.
Klein emphasizes the necessity of robust communication for exploring the moon and beyond. He describes a vision for a future lunar economy that relies on advanced communication technologies. Leveraging existing 5G capabilities, he says, is crucial for the endeavors.
The advancements in Nokia’s lunar communication project represent significant leaps forward in space exploration technology. Integrating advanced communication systems on the moon is poised to enhance our understanding of lunar conditions and support future exploratory missions.
I look forward to seeing how the technologies perform in their real environment and what discoveries await us as a result.
I firmly believe that the telecom industry’s expertise in networking technologies can play a crucial role in advancing space exploration and fostering the growth of the lunar economy.
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings