Nokia and Intuitive Machines announced the integration of Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System (LSCS) into the IM-2 mission lander, Athena, which will deploy the first cellular network on the Moon’s south pole region.
The LSCS, a “network in a box,” was installed on Athena’s upper carbon-composite panels with thermal isolation and integration into the Thermal Protection System to endure space travel and operate on the lunar surface.
Additional LSCS device modules have been installed on the Micro-Nova Hopper and the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover. Upon landing, these vehicles will connect to the LSCS, enabling surface connectivity for high-definition video streaming, command-and-control communications, and telemetry data. Intuitive Machines plans to relay this data back to Earth through its direct-to-Earth transmission service.
Nokia’s LSCS utilizes re-engineered 4G/LTE cellular technology adapted for lunar missions. The Micro-Nova Hopper, designed to explore shadowed craters, will use sensors to detect and map hydrogen indicative of water ice, transmitting findings via the LSCS. The MAPP rover will embark on a multi-day mission to map the lunar surface, collect stereo imagery, and gather environmental data using Nokia’s network for communication.
The LSCS and Micro-Nova Hopper were developed under NASA’s Tipping Point initiative, which supports commercial space technologies. Thierry E. Klein of Nokia Bell Labs highlighted the potential of cellular technologies to revolutionize lunar and planetary communications. Steve Altemus of Intuitive Machines emphasized the role of the LSCS in advancing the lunar economy and the Artemis generation, aligning with NASA’s vision for sustainable space exploration.
