Nokia has teamed up with Axiom Space to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits that will be used in NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission.
This partnership will significantly enhance space exploration by enabling crew-to-crew communication and the transmission of real-time high-definition video from the lunar surface to Earth.
Axiom Space’s new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuits will incorporate Nokia’s high-speed cellular network technology. This development allows Artemis III astronauts to capture and transmit HD video, telemetry data, and voice communications across the lunar surface.
In an official statement, Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s executive vice president of extravehicular activity, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating that the integration of 4G/LTE will serve as a critical link between astronauts and mission control, enabling essential data exchange over long distances on the Moon.
Nokia’s involvement in space exploration is not new. The company plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon during Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission in 2024. This Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), developed by Nokia Bell Labs, will be adapted for use in Axiom Space’s AxEMU spacesuits. Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, emphasized the importance of advanced networks for space missions, comparing them to essential resources like life support and shelter.
The LSCS is designed to be fully autonomous, with components that are engineered to withstand the harsh conditions of space. This system will combine a network-in-a-box and device modules that are integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits, optimized for size, weight, and power consumption.
Through this partnership, Axiom Space and Nokia are making significant strides in advancing American leadership in space exploration, paving the way for a deeper understanding of the Moon and beyond.