It is not known when the mission Artemis 3 will take off, but we already know that the astronauts will be equipped with a connected suit. If on Earth, “smart” clothes are slow to find a place in wardrobes, on the Moon, they will be indispensable.
The Artemis 3 astronauts will wear spacesuits equipped with 4G connectivity. On Earth, we are at 5G, and 6G should not be long, but on the Moon,Nokia will install a 4G networkvia its Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS). Sending antennas and relays would obviously be too expensive, and the equipment manufacturer has managed to create an equivalent of a “box” capable of broadcasting 4G on the Moon.
Up to two kilometers range
“For the Artemis 3 mission, we will be able to reach astronauts up to 2 kilometers from the lander,” explain Thierry E. Kleinpresident of Nokia Bell LabsSolutions Research. A priori, this “box” will remain in the lander, and the astronauts will be able to benefit from a 4G connection within a radius of 2 kilometers.
Designed by Axiom Space, the AxEMU spacesuits will not have touchscreens on the sleeves or keyboards in the palm of the hand. Instead, astronauts will be able to stream or share high-definition video or transmit scientific data to the base, which will then serve as a relay to Earth.
Components integrated into the suit
“From a communications perspective, key components of a smartphone will be integrated into the spacesuit and tailored to the space environment and operational requirements,” said Russell Ralston, executive vice president of extravehicular activities at Axiom Space.
While waiting for astronauts to set foot on the Moon, tests are planned by the end of the year. Nokia will slip its case into the fuselage of the IM-2 missionIntuitive MachinesThis private mission is to land at the south pole of the Moon, and Nokia will test the effectiveness of its 4G with communication between the Nova-C lunar lander, a rover and a Micro-Nova mini-drill from Intuitive Machines.
Many tests by the end of the year
As for the AxEMU suits (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit), they will be tested by the end of the year in Houston, at the Johnson Space Center. In a vacuum chamber, which simulates the vacuum of space, engineers will verify their ability to operate without an atmosphere, in particular by studying pressurization and sealing.
Then there will be extreme temperature simulations as the equipment must withstand the extreme temperature variations in space, ranging from -180°C in the shade to +120°C in the sun. Life support systems: The suits are tested for their ability to maintain appropriate levels of oxygen, temperature and humidity inside.
These tests include simulations in emergency conditions where the suit must provide maximum protection in the event of failure of other systems. In addition to tests of the survival and protection elements of micro-meteorites and resistance to lunar dust, there will therefore be tests of all the communication systems, both their reliability and their durability over time.
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