In principle, for the first time, the type of long-range ODFM/OFDMA planetary exploration wireless network that #SFU has been advocating and supporting at NASA and CSA, in collaboration with CU Boulder and Mars Institute and SETI Institute, since the late 1990s was transmitted by #Nokia Bell Labs on the lunar surface last week. But it couldn't be tested end-to-end. Slowly, though, space wireless is progressing (especially via #CCSDS standards):

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2025/03/10/nokia-and-intuitive-machines-deliver-first-cellular-network-to-the-moon-achieve-some-key-mission-objectives/ #LTE #3GPP

Pity, we won't see a rover and hopper test #lunar #LTE this time. #IM2 mission ended, while sitting in a shadow looking at Earth from the easiest place to land in the hard lunar south pole:

https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-2?questionId=6c76a9f0-e2a3-42e5-bad1-3ca4c31ecd74&appDefId=14c92d28-031e-7910-c9a8-a670011e062d

LTE gear, linked to our work at #SFU with #NASA since late 90s, should arrive on the Moon in less than an hour: https://www.youtube.com/live/VOPL8nhmQU4?si=kIBydN242Y_5rBrV #Space #3GPP

Landed! Three contact sensors out of 4, data returned still! First 100% successful #NASA #CLPS landing!!!! #blueghost #Firefly

Awesome colleague and co-author in NASA #wireless networking activities, Bernie, on what is on way to #lunar surface:

https://youtu.be/rdxe6bFdi5s?si=uv5_wWhAymZttlva #Space

Phew, had to run out for a few minutes to pick up some peanuts. You don't want an exploration launch with no peanuts. Bad luck! And, given we've pushed/tested for these comms to be launched to moon and Mars for the last 27 years, not going to risk it! #IM2 #LunarComms #LTE #3GPP

Most excellent #ASTS #SCS #5G

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/24/3031266/0/en/Verizon-completes-its-first-satellite-to-cellular-enabled-video-call-with-AST-SpaceMobile-BlueBird-2.html

With what looks like the third failure of a Falcon 9 S2 in six months, may be reaching the production limit of S2s/max flight rate of F9s. Which is interesting, as recent re-entry rate for Starlinks is close to this maximum replacement rate (but that may be temporary). Reason Starship is primarily designed as a future Starlink launcher (or Starlink can't be improved/maintained):

https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/rocket-report-blue-origin-flies-for-lunar-research-dods-new-interest-in-starship/

My lunar and public safety satcom worlds just crossed over for Verizon's ad for upcoming ASTS-based satcom services, via Buzz Aldrin ;). I almost went for a drive in the Antarctic with Buzz once, so fits ;)

https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/verizon-s-can-you-hear-me-now-guy-returns-for-satellites

Today Mastodon is taking another step towards its founding ideals: independence and non-profit ownership. We're transferring ownership of key assets to a new, European not-for-profit entity, ensuring our mission remains true to a decentralised social web, not corporate control. #MastodonNonProfit

https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/01/the-people-should-own-the-town-square/

Will be an interesting ride. I think Gateway is the most at risk, as is CLPS, which impacts international collaboration with NASA, both in terms of missions and instruments flown, and crew and science collaboration inside Artemis. But it is also important to realize the contracting method means killing those things saves almost no money, as fixed contracts (it cost $Bs to kill CxP):

https://spacenews.com/starships-space-policy-and-power-plays/?fbclid=IwY2xjawG-xE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHS1QuB936jSI5Y80LKfTdyUSOmBNjUNc_hqXg7hEmssVeegICiEVsZ0LrQ_aem_2IT2DLY6U62xarfYejxAzQ

FCC is allowing SpaceX to switch on commercial DTD/DTC service on Starlink but presently requiring that they keep to ITU WRC-23 limits (which they wanted to be 18 times over, and are presently 2 times over) on aggregate OOBE epfd in the PCS band. So we can probably expect permission for AST as well, but they'd have a lot more capacity and throughput due to their lower OOBE to in-band RxP ratio (so can transmit more):

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-24-1193A1.pdf

Whoever wins the leadership, the Tories are battling with Reform UK for an increasingly narrow base. The Party's relevance and its future hang in the balance | Simon Pease

https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/party-politics/a-drift-to-the-right-a-disconnect-from-the-future/?feed_id=261&_unique_id=6715ded2d33d5
https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/party-politics/a-drift-to-the-right-a-disconnect-from-the-future/?feed_id=261&_unique_id=6715ded2d33d5

NASA may not have continuous human presence in #space after ISS:

https://spacenews.com/nasa-weighing-options-for-continuous-human-presence-in-leo-after-iss/

Meanwhile, the suit that will use the cellular #3GPP #EVA concepts we've been developing here at #SFU since 1998, and on which we're doing lots of work these days, now gets Prada, as per yesterday at #IAC2024:

https://www.axiomspace.com/release/prada-axiom-suit

Meanwhile, SpaceX now wants 17 GHz to also allow more transmit power than present plans. Which would interference with #5GAdvanced and #6G terrestrial network potential, but may be more acceptable (this is for broadband and not the issues with their cellular service plans):

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10920218526981

SpaceX files another document with FCC late last night. Replacing their previously filed direct-to-cell antenna pattern, seemingly so that Dish Networks doesn't get the data, according to their own document. Using a standard ITU pattern that would make even off-beam interference pretty strong, for low altitude sites:

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/1091870146061

https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/leo-should-be-a-last-resort-for-bead-projects-say-industry-groups

My colleague and co-author Rob Ferl goes into #Space today, to science! Have a great ride, Rob! https://www.youtube.com/live/HG8wIiE1HnM?si=Chw0nVH1uLurxbNM

Important from @sciguyspace and will be sad if true (and Eric is good). I have written papers on lunar/Mars suit computing and comms with folks in this company, going back decades:

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/nasas-commercial-spacesuit-program-just-hit-a-major-snag/