Lunar Access Network Supporting 5G and Beyond

Lunar Access Network Supporting 5G and Beyond Phase II: MTI Systems, as a follow on to Phase I feasibility results will develop and mature capabilities for implementing lunar 5G. Phase I products included Lunar 3GPP radio access network requirements, resource requirements for lunar 5G New Radio access network processing, plans to realize a flexible access network in lunar qualified hardware, Phase II technology development plans, and a final report. Using these results, MTI Systems will develop test and demonstrate with suitable flight like hardware and emulated gNodeB, and base station, a 5G User Equipment software stack to mature the UE software to TRL 6. As an integral part of this effort, the software will be developed so that it is ready to be matured for flight demonstration. The set of features to implement UE software for the lunar environment does not currently exist and implementing it for lunar exploration application with very low Size Weight and Power (SWaP) is very challenging. 3GPP based lunar communications introduces a whole new paradigm for space communications systems and networking leveraging a vast and growing commercial technology base for terrestrial communication which provides many advantages over legacy approaches such as high bandwidth, scalability, efficiency, low cost, and efficient use of spectrum. MTI Systems will implement in an Open RAN approach to enable a competitive and diverse ecosystem of compatible communications equipment as well as interoperability and the ability to rapidly mature the software for human-rated application. Develop a flexible software-based approach to implement 3GPP standards on mission platforms suited to the lunar environment (temperature, radiation, etc.), and that will be able to integrate with Artemis mission elements (landers, rovers, suits, etc.) in order to provide a long-lived evolvable 3GPP network capability on the lunar surface. Technical Objective: Develop UE 3GPP software stack to minimum viable product functionality as a portable NASA cFE software application Demonstrate functionality in series of tests using selected relevant hardware plus operating system platform Develop basic “astronaut oriented” graphical user interface to provide insight into state of network and emergency / contingency management capabilities. Prototype algorithms needed for autonomous management on the lunar surface, without access to traditional 3GPP management systems  Proposal Deliverables: Testing, tooling, lab infrastructure documentation, test scripts and configurations Demonstration data including software build description, updates, test data, and description of results Final report documenting results and recommended future efforts

MTI Systems Lunar 5G development is specifically targeted at Artemis including all platforms that must communicate: orbiters, landers, rovers, habitats, astronauts, and fixed and mobile robotic payloads and infrastructure. The approach is inherently extensible to Mars exploration, and other NASA robotic and human spaceflight missions. Additionally, it has the capability to serve the aeronautics technology mission by enabling uncrewed air vehicle communications advances. MTI Systems Lunar 5G developments have potential for UE applications with challenging network dynamics / environments, and need for low SwAP including: space defense, missile defense, public safety radios, uncrewed and crewed air vehicles, oceangoing vehicles, areas where links are difficult and where ad hoc mesh networks must be established. They are also applicable to private networks.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.