Nokia has joined forces with Axiom Space to integrate cutting-edge 4G/LTE communication technology into the next-generation spacesuits that will be worn by astronauts during NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in space exploration technology, enabling high-speed communication on the Moon’s surface.
Revolutionizing Lunar Communication with AxEMU Spacesuits
The partnership will see the incorporation of high-speed cellular network capabilities within the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), Axiom Space’s advanced spacesuit. These suits will support HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the lunar surface, enabling Artemis III astronauts to transmit real-time video and communicate seamlessly with mission controllers on Earth as they explore the Moon.
Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “Axiom Space is excited to work with Nokia to build on the advanced capabilities of our next-generation spacesuit. Adding high-speed 4G/LTE network capability on the Moon will serve as a vital bridge linking astronauts to Earth, facilitating crucial data exchange, and enabling high-definition video communication over long distances.”
Nokia’s Lunar Communication Network: A New Era in Space Exploration
Nokia’s role in this mission is part of its broader plan to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon, as part of the Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, slated for launch in 2024. The mission will serve as a demonstration of how cellular connectivity can support critical communications during future lunar or Mars missions.
Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, highlighted the importance of this innovation: “Just as astronauts will need life support, shelter and food, they will need advanced networks to communicate with each other and go about their crucial work. Bell Labs has a long history of working on space projects, and Nokia is a leader in designing and building networks that connect the world. We are taking advantage of the same standards-based technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth every day, while bringing new innovation and technologies to bear on the specific challenges encountered in space.”
Engineering for the Lunar Environment
Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), a pioneering innovation from Nokia Bell Labs, will be deployed during the IM-2 mission and adapted for integration into the AxEMU spacesuits. The LSCS features a fully autonomous, network-in-a-box system, which combines the radio, base station, and core network elements into a single compact unit. This system is designed to withstand the Moon’s harsh environmental conditions and the dynamic stresses of spaceflight, while being optimized for size, weight, and power consumption.
Enhancing U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration
Axiom Space’s advanced spacesuits and Nokia’s groundbreaking communication systems are key developments in advancing American leadership in space exploration. These innovations will not only facilitate lunar exploration during the Artemis III mission but also lay the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Through this partnership, NASA will be equipped with commercially developed systems that enable astronauts to live, work, and explore the lunar surface with unprecedented capabilities.
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