Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR, LUNRW) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK, Euronext: NOKIA) announced Tuesday the successful integration of Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System (LSCS) into Intuitive Machines’ Athena lunar lander. The collaborative project aims to deploy the first-ever cellular network on the Moon during the upcoming IM-2 mission, targeting the lunar south pole region.
The LSCS, described as a “network in a box,” has been rigorously tested and validated by Nokia Bell Labs and installed on Athena’s upper carbon-composite panels. Engineers implemented multiple precautions to ensure the network survives the extreme conditions of space, including thermal insulation and a Thermal Protection System that regulates heat during operation and idling.
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Nokia’s LSCS will also be integrated into two lunar mobility vehicles: Intuitive Machines’ Micro-Nova Hopper, named Grace, and Lunar Outpost’s Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover. Once deployed on the Moon, these vehicles will establish connections to the Athena-based network, enabling high-definition video streaming, telemetry, and command-and-control communications.
The LSCS utilizes 4G/LTE cellular technology, widely used on Earth, but re-engineered by Nokia Bell Labs for the unique demands of lunar missions. It will facilitate robust surface connectivity and transmit data back to Earth via Intuitive Machines’ direct-to-Earth data transmission service.
“We intend to prove that cellular technologies can provide the reliable, high-capacity, and efficient connectivity needed for future crewed and uncrewed missions to the Moon and eventually Mars,” said Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia. “Cellular technology has irrevocably transformed the way we communicate on Earth. There’s no reason it can’t do the same for communications on other worlds.”
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The IM-2 mission, supported by NASA’s Tipping Point initiative, will also test cutting-edge technologies for future lunar exploration. Intuitive Machines’ Micro-Nova Hopper, Grace, is designed to explore permanently shadowed lunar craters and search for hydrogen concentrations indicative of water ice. Data collected by Grace will be transmitted over Nokia’s network to Athena and relayed back to Earth.
Lunar Outpost’s MAPP rover will explore the lunar south pole region, mapping the surface, capturing stereo imagery, and gathering environmental data. The rover will connect to Nokia’s network via antennas that extend after landing.
Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus emphasized the transformative potential of the mission: “Delivering Nokia’s 4G/LTE system to the lunar surface is a transformative moment in the commercialization of space and the maturity of the lunar economy. These innovations, initiated through NASA leadership, define the Artemis generation and pave the way for sustainable lunar operations.”
The IM-2 mission, carrying Athena, Grace, and the MAPP rover, is scheduled to launch no earlier than late February from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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