WiFi On The Moon
NASA is currently developing an architecture and concept of operations for communications and tracking on the lunar surface or other small planetary bodies. Under the Constellation Program, there will be vehicles, habitats, science equipment, and EVA crewmembers on the lunar surface. Short range communications between various entities and the gateway nodes needs to be implemented. Using an international standard, such as something based on the IEEE 802.xx family, appears to be ideal for surface short range communications. Whatever architecture is developed should also be suitable for surface communications at other destinations in the solar system, such as on an asteroid or on a moon of Mars. With limited technology development funds, having a destination independent architecture is critical.
NASA is currently developing an architecture and concept of operations for communications and tracking on the lunar surface or other small planetary bodies. Under the Constellation Program, there will be vehicles, habitats, science equipment, and EVA crewmembers on the lunar surface. Short range communications between various entities and the gateway nodes needs to be implemented. Using an international standard, such as something based on the IEEE 802.xx family, appears to be ideal for surface short range communications. Whatever architecture is developed should also be suitable for surface communications at other destinations in the solar system, such as on an asteroid or on a moon of Mars. With limited technology development funds, having a destination independent architecture is critical.
