Axiom Space, a company developing spacesuits for NASA's Artemis missions, is partnering with Nokia to integrate terrestrial wireless technologies for high-speed communications on the lunar surface.
The collaboration, announced on August 21, focuses on developing a 4G/LTE communications system called the Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS) for the Axiom spacesuits. This system is set to be utilized during the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for launch no earlier than late 2026.
The LSCS technology consists of two key components: a “network in a box” base station and a user module incorporated into the Axiom suits. The base station will be installed on the Human Landing Services lander, providing communications redundancy and increased bandwidth through 4G/LTE.
"From a suit perspective, we like this because it will give us a lot more capability and it gives is a little bit more redundancy in the communications,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space executive vice president of extravehicular activity.
The 4G/LTE capability will offer astronauts a choice of communications options depending on mission requirements, potentially enabling high-definition video streaming from cameras on the suit. This will greatly enhance scientific data transmission, providing real-time insights for scientists and geologists supporting the mission.
“From a scientific perspective, what it means is all of the scientists and geologists supporting the NASA mission in real time will have much better insight into what the crew is seeing,” said Ralston.
The LSCS is designed to operate within a two-kilometer radius from the lander, fulfilling a NASA requirement for Artemis 3. Nokia has tested the system beyond this distance in terrestrial environments.
Nokia will first test its LSCS system on Intuitive Machines' IM-2 robotic lunar lander mission, scheduled to launch late this year. This test will involve communications between the lander, a Lunar Outpost rover, and an Intuitive Machines “hopper.”
While the IM-2 mission's success is not a prerequisite for LSCS implementation in Axiom's spacesuits, Nokia is looking to future upgrades to expand the system's range, particularly for lunar rover missions. The company is also involved in DARPA's LunA-10 study, examining how LSCS could enable a commercial lunar economy.
The incorporation of communications technologies into the Axiom spacesuits is funded by a $57.5 million task order from NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract. Axiom was initially awarded a $228.5 million task order in September 2022 for Artemis lunar spacesuit development.
Axiom is currently in the critical design review (CDR) phase of suit development, which will continue until early next year. The partnership with Nokia allows for the timely integration of LSCS technology into the suits before the CDR is completed.
Axiom is also exploring a “single suit architecture” that can be adapted for both Artemis and ISS missions with minimal modifications. This would ensure the suit's versatility and adaptability across various missions.