Lunar surface network relay terminal: a lunar communications platform
Maximilian C. Scardelletti, Michael R. Gasper, Richard C. Reinhart, Michael J. Zemba, J. Rock, Steven R. Oleson, Elizabeth R. Turnbull · IET conference proceedings. · 2024
This paper will discuss the development of a Lunar Surface Relay that will serve as a central terminal for lunar surface wireless communications (e.g., 3GPP, Wi-Fi) for surface assets to transmit and receive data back-and-forth with Earth through lunar orbital relays or direct with Earth. Four variations of a wireless surface terminal were designed with varying concepts of operation to assess mass, power, cost drivers, and trade-offs. The designs entailed one stationary platform and three mobile which provided interesting trade-offs. The terminals are powered for operation with either a radioisotope/solar/battery power system or solar array/battery power system.