Current planning is to have humanity return to the lunar surface in 2024 as part of the Artemis programme. But, according to the Auto Evolution site: “However, before NASA begins shuttling people to our natural satellite, it has to build a network there that will go beyond Earth’s low orbit and connect space to Earth in a sort of Internet connection.”

The network will be called LunaNet, and astronauts will be able to use the LunaNet via numerous nodes and communicate with the crew on and around the Moon in the same way we use Wi-Fi on Earth.

In addition, missions using the network will have access to position and time signals, allowing astronauts and rovers to navigate the rugged lunar terrain and return to their base.

LunaNet will space-weather instruments to identify potentially dangerous solar activity, such as flares that erupt from the Sun and send harsh radiation towards the astronauts. With this new connectivity, the crew can be directly alerted.

This will cut down the time it takes for network management on Earth to do so. These warnings will be comparable to the ones we receive on our phones when there is hazardous weather. The architecture’s capabilities will also include a lunar search and rescue capability.

Researchers could also use LunaNet antennas to peer into deep space and search for radio signals from distant celestial objects. Altogether, the architecture’s capabilities will give scientists a new platform to test space theories, allowing them to extend their scientific knowledge.

Recently, NASA released the “Draft LunaNet Interoperability Specification” in order to kickstart the development of this new “lunar internet”. Technical discussions among industry experts from around the world are expected to follow.