Axiom Space is tapping Nokia’s expertise to integrate 4G/LTE communication capabilities into next-generation spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission.
The collaboration aims to incorporate high-speed cellular-network technology into the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), enabling HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometres on the Moon’s surface. This advancement will allow Artemis III crew members to capture real-time video and communicate with mission control on Earth during lunar exploration.
Russell Ralston, Executive VP of Extravehicular Activity at Axiom Space, commented: “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 ambitious plans include deploying the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, scheduled for delivery to the launch site in 2024. This mission will demonstrate the potential of cellular connectivity for future lunar and Mars missions.
The Finnish telecoms giant will adapt its Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), developed by Nokia Bell Labs, for use in the AxEMU spacesuit.
Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, said: “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.”
The LSCS consists of two main components: a network-in-a-box that combines radio, base station, and core network elements into a single unit, and device modules that will be integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits. Both components have been engineered to withstand the harsh conditions of the lunar environment and the stresses of spaceflight, whilst being optimised for size, weight, and power consumption.
Axiom Space’s spacesuits will provide astronauts with cutting-edge capabilities for space exploration, supporting NASA’s efforts to access, live, and work on and around the Moon. The collaboration between Nokia and Axiom Space exemplifies the crucial role that private sector innovation plays in pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
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