NASA is continuing its journey of reaching beyond Earth by partnering with Nokia to establish the first-ever mobile network on the Moon. Is this the missing link to help humanity colonize beyond our home planet?
NASA has taken another step toward its goal of space exploration by joining forces with longtime cellphone brand Nokia to bring 4G LTE connectivity to the Moon. As part of the Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, this project seeks to introduce the Lunar Surface Communication System. This system will allow for continuous and stable communication from Earth to the Moon during lunar operations.
How will the mobile network work?
The procedure in order to establish the Lunar Surface Communication System will begin small. NASA has opted for more localized objectives to ensure that its plan has a chance of succeeding the way it was originally designed. With Nokia's aid, NASA will utilize rovers to communicate with Earth in real time. This will work via the "network in a box", which is built into the rovers themselves and is contained within. This is all that is required for a 4G LTE connection.
This system was constructed to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the Moon's environment such as extreme temperatures, radiation, and the intense physical duress experienced during landing. The Athena lander which will ensure the rovers make it to the Moon, will link with the two rovers: MAPP Rover, and Micro Nova Hopper Drone. This will help to maintain a seamless network connection.
The Athena lander responsible for carrying the Lunar Surface Communication System was launched on February 26, 2025, and is expected to arrive on the Moon on March 6, 2025.
What is the end goal of Lunar Surface Communication System?
NASA's ultimate goal with this project is to establish a clear enough communication system between Earth and its Moon in the hopes that we can see humanity return to the moon by the year 2027 via their Artemis program. By the 2030s, they hope to have a long-term presence. Going even further beyond that, NASA has the lofty goal of using the Moon as a lunar station to one day even send humanity to Mars; a long-standing dream that has always been in the back of their minds.
There is much more work to be done to see our species take residence on worlds outside of Earth, but NASA is committed to the long-term plan to ensure that it happens in some capacity one day. It is a little too early to say just yet whether their dream could be a reality, but operations like the
Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission is one step closer to that possibility.