Nokia has partnered with Axiom Space to integrate advanced 4G LTE capabilities into the next generation of spacesuits to be used on NASA’s Artemis III mission.
The collaboration will equip astronauts with network connectivity during their mission to the lunar surface in 2026, a major step forward in space exploration.
By integrating network connectivity into Axiom Space’s Extravehicular Mobility Unity (AxEMU) spacesuits, astronauts can capture and transmit real-time HD video, voice communications, and telemetry across multiple kilometers on the Moon.
Nokia chooses to put 4G in astronauts’ spacesuits
The 4G network will not only ensure seamless interaction with mission control on Earth, but is also expected to improve communications between crew members.
Key to the development is Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), which consists of a ‘network-in-a-box’ comprising the radio, base station and core elements of a terrestrial cellular network packaged into a single unit, and device modules integrated directly into the spacesuits.
The components must be optimized for size, weight and energy efficiency, and must withstand the harsh lunar conditions.
Russell Ralston, Axiom Space EVP of Extravehicular Activity, noted, “Adding ultra-fast 4G/LTE network capacity to the Moon will serve as a critical bridge connecting astronauts to Earth, facilitating critical data exchanges and enabling high-definition video communications over long distances.”
“We are leveraging the same standards-based technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth every day, while deploying new innovations and technologies to address the specific challenges in space,” said Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia.
The collaboration builds on Nokia’s previous efforts to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission. During the mission, Nokia aims to demonstrate the viability of cellular connectivity for future lunar missions and missions further afield on the Red Planet.