A new era in space communication is about to begin as Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based company, sends 4G/LTE cellular technology to the moon via its IM-2 Athena lunar mission. Next month, the mission will blast off with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and orbit the moon before landing.
Currently, communication on the moon involves large satellite dishes stationed on Earth that send radio signals to radios on landers on the moon. However, Intuitive Machines is aiming to create a more efficient system using Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System.
According to Thierry Klein, President of Bell Labs at Nokia, “We want to demonstrate that advanced technologies can be optimized for space applications.” The company’s goal is to enable communication between individuals standing on different craters on the moon.
Tim Crane, Chief Growth and Technology Officer at Intuitive Machines, explained that traditional communication methods are not suitable for the moon’s surface. “Every piece of infrastructure we put on the moon makes the next step easier,” he said, emphasizing the company’s ambition to establish a permanent human presence on the moon within the next 10 years.
The IM-2 Athena lunar mission is scheduled for February 26, 2025, with a four-day launch window. The successful deployment of 4G/LTE cellular technology on the moon marks an important milestone in space exploration and may pave the way for future communication systems that can support human settlements on the lunar surface.
Source: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/houston-company-sending-cell-phone-service-moon-im-2-mission