New Mexico-based Solstar Space, a space communications services specialist, announced it has secured a major contract to develop commercial Wi-Fi access points for NASA’s Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programs. This development will fundamentally change communication between astronauts, robots, and lunar rovers on future lunar missions.
NASA Entrusts Solstar with the Challenge of Bringing Wi-Fi to the Moon
Solstar is entering a six-month preliminary design phase with $150,000 in funding under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award. During this phase, the company will develop preliminary designs for Wi-Fi access points for key systems:
- Human landing systems and lunar rovers
- Instruments, payloads, and sensors
- Spacesuits and tablet computers
- The Lunar Gateway’s habitation and logistics base
“Everything needs to be Wi-Fi-enabled,” said Brian Barnett, founder and CEO of Solstar, emphasizing the need for seamless and practical connectivity on the lunar surface. The company will collaborate with NASA Johnson Space Center, which pioneered Wi-Fi on the International Space Station (ISS).
Solstar’s proposed Lunar Wi-Fi Access Point (LWIFI-AP) is designed to meet NASA’s demand for a space-grade, multi-mode, multi-protocol, and multi-band wireless access point capable of operating in extreme lunar conditions. Barnett noted that lunar communications systems must withstand extreme thermal conditions and meet strict size, weight, and power constraints.
This advanced Wi-Fi system will:
- Enable robust communication between astronauts, robotic systems, and lunar vehicles.
- Support real-time mission data streaming, navigation, and scientific collaboration.
The company’s goal is to rapidly build commercial products for CLPS missions after preliminary designs. This means providing commercial-grade connectivity solutions suitable for lunar missions lasting approximately 14 Earth days. It will also continue to develop radiation-resistant Wi-Fi access points for longer-duration Artemis missions.
“Receiving this SBIR award is a milestone for Solstar and space-based connectivity,” Barnett said, reiterating Solstar’s vision to bring “commercial-grade connectivity” to the Moon. Solstar is now bringing its experience in persistent communications services for satellites and space stations to the Moon.
