The construction of a 4G network on the Moon is part of NASA’s Artemis mission. « Artemis, » named after the Greek goddess of the Moon, is America’s plan to return to the Moon, aiming to land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024 and establish a sustainable presence by 2028, serving as a stepping stone for future Mars missions.

The Artemis Project

The Artemis program is NASA’s current space exploration initiative aimed at returning humans to the Moon and eventually landing on Mars. The mission is named after Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, with the previous U.S. lunar mission named Apollo. The plan includes sending the first woman astronaut to the Moon.

In May 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump announced full support for the plan to return two astronauts (one woman and one man) to the Moon’s south pole by 2024. The Artemis program is expected to cost between $20 billion and $30 billion over the next five years. To accelerate progress, the White House requested an additional $1.6 billion.

The Artemis plan consists of three phases:

The first phase (Artemis 1) involves an unmanned three-week flight around the Moon by the Orion spacecraft, launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy rocket in the second half of 2020, before returning to Earth.

The second phase (Artemis 2) is planned as a crewed flight in 2023.

The third phase (Artemis 3) aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024.

The Artemis project hopes to establish a lunar colony by 2028, a key step toward completing a crewed mission to Mars.

To achieve the goal of returning humans to the Moon more than 50 years after the Apollo program, NASA plans to develop and build five key systems: the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the lunar Gateway station, the lunar landing system, the in-cabin spacesuit, and the extravehicular LUNAR spacesuit.

Communication between these systems requires stable, reliable, and advanced communication technologies.

Communication Technologies Needed for Lunar Deployment

With plans to establish a lunar base by 2028, NASA has awarded contracts totaling $370 million to 14 companies for deploying technologies on the Moon. These innovations include remote power generation, cryogenics, robotics, safe landing systems, and 4G networks.

Nokia will deploy a 4G/LTE network on the Moon through its research division, Bell Labs. According to NASA, this will be the « first LTE/4G communication system in space, » supporting communication between lunar landers, rovers, habitats, and astronauts for data transmission, remote rover control, real-time navigation, voice calls, high-definition video calls, and more.

Why Did Artemis Choose 4G?

According to a recent NASA statement, the 4G communication system developed in collaboration with Nokia will provide greater range, faster speeds, and higher reliability on the lunar surface compared to existing 4G standards. The system will facilitate communication between lunar landers, rovers, habitats, and astronauts for data transmission, remote rover control, real-time navigation, and high-definition voice and video calls.

Nokia Bell Labs stated that its 4G network has been specifically designed to withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, vacuum conditions, and the seismic effects of lunar launches and landings.

Additionally, Nokia emphasized that 4G networks are essential for long-term human presence on the Moon. In the future, the lunar network could be expanded, and Nokia’s equipment could be upgraded from 4G to 5G as new technology standards mature.

Why Not 5G? Or 6G and the Starlink Project?

5G has been commercialized globally, offering high speed, low latency, and large capacity. While current 5G technology is relatively mature and Nokia has mastered it, with over 100 global

Nokia

Nokia is a Finnish city best known as the former home of Nokia Corporation, a multinational telecommunications company that was a global leader in mobile phone manufacturing during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Originally founded in 1865 as a pulp mill, the company later expanded into rubber, cables, and electronics before becoming a pioneer in mobile technology. Today, Nokia remains a key player in telecommunications infrastructure, while the city of Nokia preserves its industrial heritage and natural surroundings along the Nokianvirta River.

NASA

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the United States government agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and aerospace research, established in 1958 in response to the Soviet Union’s early space achievements. It has led landmark missions, including the Apollo Moon landings, the Space Shuttle program, and the Mars rover explorations, advancing space science and technology. Today, NASA continues to explore space, collaborate internationally on projects like the International Space Station (ISS), and research Earth and planetary sciences.

Artemis

Artemis, likely referring to the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, was the virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth, worshipped as one of the Olympian deities. Her most famous temple was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built around 550 BCE and later destroyed. Today, her legacy endures in mythology, art, and the ruins of her once-magnificent temple.

Moon

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, formed about 4.5 billion years ago, likely from debris after a massive collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body. It has played a significant role in human culture, mythology, and scientific exploration, including the historic Apollo 11 landing in 1969, which marked the first human steps on its surface. The Moon continues to be a focus of research and future exploration plans, such as NASA’s Artemis program.

Mars

Mars, often called the « Red Planet, » is the fourth planet from the Sun and a prominent figure in human culture and scientific exploration. Known for its dusty, iron-rich surface and thin atmosphere, Mars has been a subject of fascination since ancient times, with early astronomers like Galileo observing it and modern missions like NASA’s Perseverance rover searching for signs of past life. Its potential for future human colonization continues to inspire both scientific research and popular imagination.

Orion spacecraft

The **Orion spacecraft** is a NASA-developed crew vehicle designed for deep-space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars. Part of the Artemis program, Orion builds on legacy spacecraft designs like Apollo but incorporates modern technology for longer-duration missions. Its first uncrewed test flight, *Exploration Flight Test-1*, launched in 2014, with crewed missions planned for the late 2020s.

Space Launch System (SLS)

The **Space Launch System (SLS)** is NASA’s powerful heavy-lift rocket designed for deep-space missions, including the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon. Developed as a successor to the Space Shuttle, the SLS had its first successful launch in November 2022 (Artemis I), carrying an uncrewed Orion spacecraft. It represents a key part of NASA’s plans for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond.

lunar Gateway station

The Lunar Gateway is a planned space station that will orbit the Moon, serving as a staging point for future lunar and deep-space missions. Developed by NASA in collaboration with international partners like ESA, CSA, and JAXA, it is a key component of the Artemis program, aiming to support sustainable lunar exploration by the late 2020s. The Gateway will facilitate astronaut landings, scientific research, and serve as a hub for missions to Mars and beyond.