German scientists are hoping to go down up a 4 G connection on the Moon , to support the reaching of two lunar rovers planned for next year .
Vodafone Germany foretell in astatementyesterday that it planned to support a individual mission from a German team hump as the Part - Time Scientists ( PTScientists ) , with help from Nokia Bell Labs . They are planning to send a roamer to the Moon as early as next year on a launching of a SpaceX Falcon 9 projectile .
“ This is a crucial first pace for sustainable geographic expedition of the solar organisation , ” Robert Böhme , CEO and Founder of PTScientists , said in the program line .
“ In rescript for humanity to leave the provenience of Earth , we need to arise infrastructure beyond our dwelling planet . ”
PTScientists were earlier one of the competitors in the Google Lunar XPRIZE , a competition to race across the open of the Moon , which wascanceled last calendar month . But they withdrew from the competition in 2017 , instead seeking other individual investment to make their lunar dreams a reality .
Teaming up with Audi , the team has designed two “ lunar Quattro ” rovers to research the Moon . The plan is to land these near NASA’sApollo 17 landing place site , drive up to it , and devolve images and HD video to Earth .
To intercommunicate with each other , and to send data back to Earth ( including a live video stream ) , Vodafone and Nokia will develop an Ultra Compact connection to accompany the mission . Weighing less than 1 kilogram ( 35 ounces ) , it will broadcast 4 G using the 1800 MHz absolute frequency band .
“ A 4 one thousand web is highly energy effective liken to analogue wireless and that will be crucial to Mission to the Moon and is the first step to building communications infrastructure for future missions , ” the assertion note .
Theoretically , an cosmonaut with a phone could actually link up to this internet , Böhmetold IFLScienceback in August 2017 . And the idea is that this arrangement could be used by future explorers – specially relevant now that NASA is planning toreturn to the Moon .
Whether PTScientists actually launches next year , well , that persist to be see . Getting to the Moon is tough , as evidenced by the cancelation of the Lunar XPRIZE . But they have got some important financial backing behind them , so maybe they can make it happen .
And if they do , there might just be a 4 G connection waiting for any succeeding astronauts who also make the stumble .
