USD 370 Million contracts signed under NASA's 'Tipping Point' Program

The US space agency NASA has awarded a contract to establish a 4G network on the moon to Nokia. Nokia plans to first install a 4G / LTE network and later convert it to 5G.

The US space agency NASA has awarded a contract to determine a 4G network on the moon to Nokia.

Nokia plans to first install a 4G / LTE network and later convert it to 5G. Nokia is going to be given a fund of USD 14.1 million to start out work on behalf of NASA.

Research and Development for Space Exploration

The fund is part of a USD 370 million contract signed under NASA’s ‘Tipping Point’ selection program, which aims to advance research and development for space exploration. NASA, in its official announcement, said that this 4G system can support communication on the lunar surface in the additional distance, faster speed and in a better way.

Selected 14 US Companies

NASA has selected a complete list of 14 US companies, including Nokia, for its moon mission. a complete fund of USD 370 million has been allocated for this mission. The US Space Agency aims to develop a variety of technologies to pave the way for permanent Artemis operations on the Moon by the top of this decade.

Technology will need to be developed Rapidly

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during a live broadcast that if NASA wants to satisfy its goal of seeing astronauts performing on the moon by 2028, it must rapidly develop new technologies. Bridenstine further said that we’d like power systems that will stay on the lunar surface for an extended time and that we even have to develop the power to migrate to the moon.

Express Happiness

To the moon! 🌕

We are excited to have been named by @NASA as a key partner to advance “Tipping Point” technologies for the moon, to help pave the way towards sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

So, what technology can you expect to see? (1/6) pic.twitter.com/wDNwloyHdP

— Bell Labs (@BellLabs) October 15, 2020

At an equivalent time, Bell Labs, Nokia’s research arm, expressed its pleasure at getting the contract on Twitter. He wrote, ‘We are very excited to be selected by NASA as a serious partner to advance’ tipping point ‘technologies for the Moon. this may help in paving the way towards the permanent presence of the citizenry on the lunar surface ‘.

First attempt to launch LTE Network on the Moon

This is not the first time Nokia has received this responsibility. Earlier in 2018, Nokia made its first plan to launch an LTE network on the moon. Nokia has partnered with German space firm PTScientists and Vodafone UK with plans to line up the network for the Apollo 17 landing. However, this plan could never be implemented.