Getting a Signal on the Moon: 4G network for lunar missions

Summary

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. Klein, Nokia Bell Labs president of Solutions Research, which, along with NASA and Intuitive Machines, has 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....