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Nokia says it has been chosen by the US space agency NASA to build the first mobile telephone network on the moon.
The Finnish technology company recently announced that its Nokia Bell Labs division will build the lunar communications system. He said NASA will place the equipment on a lunar lander. The spacecraft is expected to reach the moon’s surface in late 2022.
Nokia’s announcement comes as the space agency continues preparations to send astronauts to the moon by 2024. NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the moon as a “warming up” for the future. . missions to the planet Mars.
Earlier this month, NASA announced that it had awarded $ 370 million to 14 companies to provide technology for the moon landing program. The money will support studies of cryogenic liquid administration and technologies related to energy storage and energy production on the moon’s surface.
The space agency also signed an agreement for the development and testing of improved lunar landing systems. And it is looking for private companies to extract rocks and other resources on the Moon.
The Nokia deal was included in the latest NASA awards to private companies. The space agency said it is paying the company $ 14.1 million to build the mobile network.
Nokia said its network will provide communications critical to the work astronauts will have to do on the moon. This will include remote control of lunar vehicles and other equipment, in real time navigation high quality video and activities transmission.
The equipment includes a base station, antennas and computer software programs. All equipment will be designed to withstand difficult launches, moon landings and extreme conditions in space.
Nokia said the equipment is designed to configure or configure the 4G / LTE communications network on its own. Marcus Weldon is Nokia’s CTO. Weldon said he sees the 4G / LTE system as a necessity to support “a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface “.
The company decided to use 4G instead of 5G, the latest mobile technology, because 4G has been available for longer and has proven itself. reliability.
Nokia said its long-term goal is to move the lunar network to 5G technology in the future.
I am Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in this story
mobile – adj. able to move freely or easily
mission – n. an important task, which usually involves traveling somewhere
cryogenic – adj. related to the scientific study of very low temperatures and how to produce them
administration – n. controlling and organizing something
remote – adj. far away in the distance
navigation – n. the movement and direction of things, such as boats or vehicles
transmission – n. the activity of listening to or viewing sound or video directly from the Internet
antenna – north. a structure made of metal rods or cables, often placed on top of a building or vehicle, that receives or sends radio or television signals
sustainable – adj. able to continue for a period of time
reliability – n. the ability to be trusted or believed
