NASA and Finnish telecommunications firm Nokia have announced plans to build a 4G cellular network on the moon. The system is on track to launch in 2022, giving future astronauts the ability to stream high-definition video even when they’re off-planet—and bringing a sustainable human presence on the moon a little bit closer.
The project, for which Nokia will be paid $14.1 million, aims to create the lunar communications infrastructure necessary for voice and video calls, data transmission, robotic controls, and real-time navigation—think Google Maps, but for astronauts. The company’s R&D arm, Bell Labs, is partnering with the space engineering company Intuitive Machines to deploy the system to the moon. Nokia says that the system will be designed to withstand the shock of takeoff and landing as well as the harsh conditions of space. Eventually, the company’s goal is to upgrade the 4G network to 5G, which is just now starting to roll out on the home planet.
The network is…
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Source : fastcompany.com
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