Mobile network planned for moon

HELSINKI: Finland’s Nokia has been selected by Nasa to build the first cellular network on the moon, the company said this week.

The lunar network will be part of the US space agency’s efforts to return humans to the moon by 2024 and build longterm settlements there under its Artemis programme.

Nokia said the first wireless broadband communications system in space would be built on the lunar surface in late 2022.

The Finnish company will partner with

Texasbased private space craft design firm Intuitive Machines to deliver the network equipment to the moon on its lunar lander.

After delivery, the network would configure itself and establish the first LongTerm Evolution communications system on the moon, Nokia said.

‘‘The network will provide critical communication capabilities for many different datatransmission applications, including vital command and control functions,’’ Nokia said. — Reuters