Nokia’s Attempt to Make the First Cellular Call on the Moon Falls Short, Yet There Are Positive Aspects

Nokia, the well-known Finnish telecommunications company, recently shared its plans to establish the first 4G/LTE network on the Moon. This initiative is part of NASA’s IM-2 mission, which aimed to send various technological and scientific instruments to the Moon to advance future exploration efforts.

The mission included Nokia Bell Labs’ Surface Communications System, which successfully reached the lunar surface via the Athena lander. However, not all planned objectives could be completed. One of the primary goals was to make the first-ever cellular phone call from the Moon. Unfortunately, the Athena lander experienced an issue — it landed on its side, which prevented power generation necessary for making that historic call. The orientation of the solar panels on the lander after landing made it impossible to recharge the systems needed to enable the call.

Despite this setback, there were successful developments. Nokia managed to deploy the LTE network in the Moon’s south pole region and was able to confirm key functionalities of the network. This included transmitting operational data back to Intuitive Machines’ ground station and to Nokia’s mission control center on Earth. In a brief 25-minute window before the lander lost power, the Surface Communications System was able to conduct multiple tests.

Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, commented on the achievement, noting, “In space exploration, there are big successes and small successes. We delivered and deployed the first cellular network on the Moon, and we are incredibly proud of the results achieved despite the very challenging circumstances. If our device modules had been functioning when our network was powered up, all indications suggest that we would have been able to complete the first-ever cellular call on the Moon.”

While Nokia is recognized for its pioneering role in the lunar communications project, the implications of the Athena lander’s mishap were significant for Intuitive Machines, the company responsible for its deployment. The malfunction during landing negatively impacted the mission’s overall success and also had financial repercussions for Intuitive Machines, resulting in a steep decline in their stock value.

Despite the challenges faced, this mission marks an important step in proving that technologies typically used on Earth can be adapted for lunar conditions. The achievements of Nokia and Intuitive Machines illustrate a broader trend in space exploration where collaborations between private companies and governmental space agencies like NASA can lead to groundbreaking advancements.

As space exploration continues to evolve, the incorporation of telecommunications technologies into lunar missions may pave the way for more complex operations in the future. Developing communication networks on the Moon is crucial for upcoming missions, as it could facilitate remote operations, enhance data transmission, and ultimately support a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.

With ongoing advancements and collaborations, the potential for further innovative projects related to lunar exploration appears promising. The lessons learned from this mission will likely inform future initiatives, particularly regarding the deployment of technology in challenging environments off the planet. The progress made by Nokia and Intuitive Machines is a clear indicator that commercial space endeavors are becoming increasingly integral to the exploration of celestial bodies.