What's Happening?
Solstar Space has been awarded a $150,000 SBIR Phase 1 contract by NASA to design a WiFi network on the Moon. This network aims to support wireless hardware expected to be part of the future lunar economy, including CLPS and Artemis missions. Solstar's founder, Brian Barnett, highlighted the challenges of establishing WiFi on the Moon, such as extreme temperatures, lunar dust, and radiation. The company plans to design a proprietary operating system for long-distance IT fixes, ensuring reliable communication for landers, rovers, spacesuits, and scientific experiments.
Why It's Important?
The development of a lunar WiFi network is crucial for the success of future lunar missions, as it will facilitate communication and data transfer among various lunar assets. This technology is expected to enhance the efficiency and safety of operations on the Moon, reducing the need for astronauts to spend time outside in harsh conditions. The initiative represents a significant step in building the infrastructure necessary for a sustainable lunar economy, potentially benefiting U.S. space exploration efforts and positioning the country as a leader in space communications technology.
What's Next?
Solstar plans to design two versions of the WiFi access point: one for two-week CLPS missions and another to last up to five years for long-duration Artemis missions. The company is also collaborating with Momentus to demonstrate the first commercial WiFi hotspot in low Earth orbit in 2026. These developments could lead to the establishment of a robust communication network on the Moon, supporting various scientific and commercial activities. The success of Solstar's lunar WiFi project could encourage further investments in space communications technology.
