NASA Taps Nokia to Construct First Lunar 4G Network
NASA pays Nokia $14.1 million to build a 4G communications system on the Moon for its 2024 Artemis mission. The network will provide astronauts and lunar rovers with reliable data, voice, and high-definition video capabilities.
NASA hires Nokia to build the first 4G network on the Moon as part of its upcoming Artemis mission. The space agency pays $14.1 million to Nokia's American subsidiary, Bell Labs, to create a communications system that provides voice, data, triangulation, and video capabilities for astronauts.
This contract is one of 14 awards NASA issues to support the planned 2024 lunar landing. Other projects include Lockheed testing cryogenic fluid management technologies and Intuitive Machines designing a hopper lander, all of which require a robust wireless network to function together effectively on the lunar surface.
The lunar 4G system promises greater distances, increased speeds, and enhanced reliability compared to current space communication standards. Nokia states that this technology acts as a critical fabric for data transmission, allowing for real-time navigation of lunar rovers and streaming of high-definition video across the moon's geography.