Internet on the Moon, E.T. Facetime Earth!
Source: Nokia
A live stream from the Moon in high definition? No way, right? Actually…yes. From 2024, we will be able to receive high quality content from the Moon. This is because in the next two to three years we will have a fully functioning high-speed mobile network on the Moon.
Take us to the Moon
Are we colonizing the Moon and sending social influencers there to live tweet the event? Not quite. But, NASA is planning a mission, which, by 2024, will put the first woman on the Moon. Along with this exciting event, NASA plans to leverage the power of mobile network to get insights collected from the crew at faster speeds and much higher quality than the Apollo mission did back in 1969. The network will also be used for vital “Command and Control” functions, running equipment remotely and for high definition video streaming!
Source: Nokia
NASA chose the Finnish multinational NOKIA Bell Labs to build the mobile network for the mission, awarding the firm a $14.1M contract. This is part of a much larger $370M program which aims to deliver technologies for the mission such as robotic operations, new ways of harvesting oxygen, new energy sources - and, futuristic-sounding “cryogenic propellants” to freeze spacecraft fuel. It may come as no surprise that Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been involved in some of these technologies.
The Network Technology
The network will be deployed with automation in mind, having the ability to self-configure. The current radio standards in place on the Moon are just not good enough for today’s requirements.
According to Nokia the network will be:
Ultra-compact – This is a huge advance from the traditional installations we see on Earth, to adapt to space travel and the challenges that brings such as heavy impact and extreme temperature.
Low-power – Another hugely important feature is the ability to generate, consume and preserve power.
An end-to-end networking solution – Nokia is leveraging the existing LTE base-station and evolved-packet-core (EPC) unit that they have deployed around the world in small-cell networks.
Source; RCR Wireless
The radio and modems are based on the same user equipment designs found in today’s 4G phones and devices.
Nokia has optimized and hardened these technologies to meet the strict payload requirements of spaceflight, to withstand the vibrational impact of a rocket launch and lunar landing, and, to operate under the extremely harsh conditions on the Moon’s surface (such as temperature, vacuum and radiation).
How will this mission help us on Earth?
Apart from the great astronaut selfie shots and vlog-style live updates? Nokia believes that if they can build a lunar network that is able to cope with such harsh conditions, they will be able to use their learnings to do much more. Potentially, they could improve their networks on Earth - which is great news for us all.
There will be an un-crewed mission in late 2022 which will validate the mobile network technology and testing an Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lunar Lander.
This 2022 mission will confirm how ready the network will be for future human missions, and open the doors for a more sustainable human presence on the Moon by the end of the decade. Exciting times lie ahead!
NOKIA is the chosen one. But it’s no surprise.
NOKIA Bell Labs are not new to space exploration. Their roots go back to the 60s when they launched Telstar 1, the first communications satellite capable of relaying TV signals between Europe and North America. Also in the 60s, Arno Penzias and Bob Wilson (Bell Lab scientists) discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation believed to be left over from the Big Bang. In other words, Nokia has a huge scientific pedigree that has led to great discoveries in the past.
But 4G is so last decade...
Pretty much like on Earth, the Moon’s 4G network will eventually be upgraded to 5G. So, the iPhone 16 and Apple Glass should work just fine on the Moon!
On a serious note, given the less obstructed landscape and a much less crowded network, 4G will be more than enough to power NASA’s mission providing a more reliable, longer-distance communication format.
The question is…what camera will they use on the Moon?
I’m sure they will use professional cameras for the mission, but, imagine how cool it will be to also get the astronauts high-definition videos almost in real-time. This is a real possibility! We’ll just hope they take a couple of decent smartphones, because, let’s face it, Nokia phones are not quite up to the task of doing great 4K videos yet!
Conclusion
We are likely still quite far from humans colonizing the Moon or other planets, but it’s thrilling to witness these advances in technology and the opportunities they will bring for us on Earth and future generations. If Stephen Spielberg decides to film an E.T. II, he may have to change the famous line to “E.T. livestream home.”