The only natural satellite of the Earth will soon have its own Wi -Fi connection. Ironically: while many regions of our blue planet are still “white areas”, the moon is about to acquire its first wireless network.
Solstar Space, a pioneer in space communications, won a NASA contract, with a value of $ 150,000, to develop a new generation lunar Wi -Fi point.
Needs for your upcoming lunar missions
Why does NASA want to implement a Wi -Fi network on the Moon? The agency highlights the critical needs in the communication infrastructure to support its next lunar missions. It is about displaying compact and 3GPP Wi -Fi solutions, size, weight and energy size, intended to equip the terrifying, rotoves, habitats, moon orbit and future stations such as the lunar bridge.
Therefore, this project will contribute directly to the Artemis program and the CLPS initiatives (Commercial Lunar Useful Services).
Solstar’s access point aims to meet NASA’s needs in terms of “multimode and multi-enve” wireless connectivity, capable of resisting extreme lunar conditions in a hostile environment where dust, extreme temperatures and the absence of infrastructure make these technological innovations essential. It will offer reliable communications between astronauts, robotic systems, vehicles, surface infrastructure and orbital equipment. Designed to administer the data flow in real time, it will facilitate navigation and scientific cooperation.
Artemis aims to establish a lasting presence around the moon and bring American astronauts back for the first time since Apollo in 1972. released in 2017 under President Donald Trump and baptized Artemis in 2019, he also prepares the future missions inhabited for Mars. The first inhabited establishment is planned in 2027 with the Artemis III mission.
Important geopolitical problems
In the vision of the US government, the Internet on the Moon is not limited to facilitating the life of astronauts and guaranteeing reliable communication. It is also an important geopolitical and economic question, with a strong problem of digital sovereignty against Russia … and especially in front of China. The Artemis program plans to establish a base in the South Lunar Pole, a strategic region where water ice traces have been detected and that never receives direct sunlight.
It is very likely that the installation of the necessary infrastructure on the site is very likely, especially because the launches to the moon is not yet performed with the necessary regularity. Having solid communications would facilitate the task. Especially since the Middle Empire is updated, and even progresses.
According to President Xi Jinping’s authority, China promoted its spatial ambition, with the intention of sending a Chinese crew on the Moon before 2030 and erecting a lunar station there.
The Chinese government has invested billions of euros in its space program to catch up with the United States and Russia, supporting its ambition to become the main technological power in the world. And, therefore, the wifi is found … in the middle of this “great game.” NASA has moved a new pawn, after trying the deployment of a 4G lunar network, provided by Nokia last March. Let’s wait for the rest.
Source: BFM TV
