Soon, Astronauts will be able to communicate more effectively with mission control and other crew members on the lunar surface. This real-time communication can improve safety, coordination, and decision-making during missions.
Artemis III, the first crewed NASA mission to set foot on the Moon in more than 50 years, will be a historic mission, returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits for the Artemis III lunar mission.
These spacesuits, known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), will support HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will allow Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while exploring the lunar surface.
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| Image credit: Axiom Space |
Texas, US-headquartered privately funded space infrastructure developer, Axiom Space, has selected Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS) for integration into its AxEMU spacesuits, which Artemis III astronauts will wear as they work on the lunar surface.
Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in AxEMU, supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.
The ability to transmit HD video and telemetry data over longer distances will facilitate scientific research, exploration, and documentation. Astronauts can share their experiences and findings with experts back on Earth.
Noki plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in this year only.
While it is a 4G/LTE system at its heart, it is quite different to any cellular network on Earth.
In its collaboration with Axiom Space on the Artemis III lunar spacesuit, Nokia intends to prove that the same cellular technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth can meet the critical communications needs of these seminal missions.
Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in AxEMU, supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.
The ability to transmit HD video and telemetry data over longer distances will facilitate scientific research, exploration, and documentation. Astronauts can share their experiences and findings with experts back on Earth.
Noki plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in this year only.
The Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS)
Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), pioneered by Nokia Bell Labs’ research and innovation, will be deployed during IM-2 and will be further adapted for use in the AxEMU spacesuit.While it is a 4G/LTE system at its heart, it is quite different to any cellular network on Earth.
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| 4G/LTE Space Hardware |
Nokia Bell Labs completely reconceptualized the hardware and software design of a 4G/LTE network, we experience on the Earth, to prepare the system for the unique operating parameters of a lunar mission and the harsh conditions of the Moon’s surface.
The LCS has been carefully engineered to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the lunar surface, including radiation, extreme temperature variations and the Moon’s complete lack of atmosphere.
Finally, the equipment is designed to withstand the dynamic stresses of launch, spaceflight and lunar landing, as well as to meet Artemis III’s rigorous weight, size and power limitations.
Notably, the LSCS is the result of nearly two decades of research and innovation into automation, optimization, miniaturization and hardware and software integration. Nokia Bell Labs completely reconceptualized the hardware and software design of a terrestrial 4G/LTE network to prepare the system for the unique operating parameters of a lunar mission and the harsh conditions of the Moon’s surface.
The LSCS has two main components. First, a network-in-a-box combines the radio, base station, routing, security and core elements of a terrestrial network into a single highly resilient unit that will be integrated into the HLS. Second, device modules will be integrated into Axiom Space’s AxEMU spacesuits, providing mobile voice and broadband connectivity up to two kilometers away from the Artemis III human landing system (HLS).
The LSCS network system software is highly integrated and optimized, creating an extremely compact system that is fully autonomous and capable of self-deploying, self-configuring and self-healing.
As lunar missions become more frequent, this collaboration between Axiom Space and Nokia sets a precedent for developing lunar communication infrastructure. Future missions may build upon this technology or explore even more advanced communication systems.
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