50 years after Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon, another step for man is set to be achieved.
Vodafone is partnering with Nokia to launch a 4G network on the moon. The plan is backed by Berlin-based PTScientists who are looking to achieve the first privately funded moon landing next year.
Robert Böhme, CEO and Founder of PTScientists, said:
“This is a crucial first step for sustainable exploration of the solar system. In order for humanity to leave the cradle of Earth, we need to develop infrastructures beyond our home planet.
With Mission to the Moon we will establish and test the first elements of a dedicated communications network on the Moon. The great thing about this LTE solution is that it saves so much power, and the less energy we use sending data, the more we have to do science!”
Nokia, for its part, will be required to build equipment capable of surviving in space, is compact, and weighs less than 1kg. 4G will be utilised due to its energy efficiency. Live HD footage of the moon’s surface will be beamed back using the 1800MHz frequency.
Marcus Weldon, CTO at Nokia, says the project will help to “advance the communications infrastructure required for academics, industry, and educational institutions in conducting lunar research.”
Automotive manufacturer Audi will also be involved with the project. When the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket used for PTScientists’ mission lands on the moon, two Audi-designed rovers called ‘Lunar Quattro’ will emerge and scout the last known location of the Apollo 17 vehicle left behind during the last lunar surface walk back in December, 1972.
“This project involves a radically innovative approach to the development of mobile network infrastructure,” comments Vodafone Germany CEO, Dr Hannes Ametsreiter. “It is also a great example of an independent, multi-skilled team achieving an objective of immense significance through their courage, pioneering spirit, and inventiveness.”
Who knows, perhaps Starman will float in range to give us a FaceTime?
What are your thoughts on the project? Let us know in the comments.
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