WASHINGTON – It was announced on Tuesday that firms including Nokia,Vodafone Germany, Audi and Germany-based PTScientists are collaboratingtogether to manufacture a device through which astronauts will be offered4G internet on the moon, a project they call ‘Mission to the Moon’.
Nokia said that through Nokia Bell Labs, the 4G network device would becreated via a technology called ‘Ultra Compact Network’, weighing less than1kg, as much as a bag of sugar does.
The device would not be able to provide as fast speed as our normal daysWi-Fi devices do but, it would be able to help them stay connected overlarger distances. As *Mashable *reports, two Audi lunar Quattro rovers willbe sent to the moon and the device would let them communicate directly withEarth. They will be able to transfer scientific data and HD videos thatthey capture.
Vodafone Germany Chief Executive, Hannes Ametsreiter said, “This projectinvolves a radically innovative approach to the development of mobilenetwork infrastructure.”
What’s more interesting it that the 4G device is not even far away tobecoming a reality. It will be launched to the moon by next year aboardSpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. PTScientists CEO, Robert Böhme stated, “This is acrucial first step for sustainable exploration of the solar system. Inorder for humanity to leave the cradle of Earth, we need to developinfrastructures beyond our home planet.”
Nokia chief technology officer and Nokia Bell Labs president, Marcus Weldonsaid in the press release, “We are very pleased to have been selected byVodafone to be their technology partner.
This important mission is supporting, among other things, the developmentof new space-grade technologies for future data networking, processing andstorage, and will help advance the communications infrastructure requiredfor academics, industry and educational institutions in conducting lunarresearch.”