[ad_1]
With telecommunications competition on Earth as fierce as ever, equipment maker Nokia Oyj announced on Monday its expansion into a new market, winning a deal to install the first cellular network on the Moon.
The Finnish equipment maker said it was selected by NASA to deploy an “ultra-compact, low-power, space-enhanced” 4G wireless network on the lunar surface as part of the US space agency’s plan to establish a presence. long-term human. on the moon by 2030.
The $ 14.1 million contract, awarded to Nokia’s US subsidiary, is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman, and the next man, to the moon by 2024.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The astronauts will begin detailed experiments and explorations, which the agency hopes will help develop its first human mission to Mars.
Nokia’s network equipment will be remotely installed on the surface of the moon using a lunar hopper built by Intuitive Machines LLC in late 2022, Nokia said.
“The network will be self-configuring at the time of deployment,” it said in a statement, adding that wireless technology would enable “vital command and control functions, remote control of lunar vehicles, real-time navigation and high-definition video transmission.”
The 4G equipment can be upgraded to a super fast 5G network, Nokia said.
In all, NASA announced last week that it would distribute $ 370 million to 14 companies to supply “tipping point” technologies for its mission, including robotics and new methods of gathering the resources needed to live on the moon. as oxygen and energy. sources.
Most of the funding went to companies researching cryogenic propellants, freezing liquids used to power spacecraft.
Among them, Elon Musk’s SpaceX received $ 53.2 million for a demonstration of the transfer of 10 tons of liquid oxygen between tanks in a space vehicle, NASA said.
Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Comments that contain abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user prohibited. The final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.
[ad_2]