The National Space Administration announced on the 24th that after completing the Chang'e-6 mission, China's lunar exploration program will lay the foundation for the International Lunar Research Station through two launch missions. According to the plan, China will launch Chang'e-7 in 2026 and Chang'e-8 around 2028.
The Chang'e-7 mission is to survey the environment and resources of the South Pole of the Moon, while the Chang'e-8 mission aims to verify the in-situ utilization technology of lunar resources and lay a foundation for the construction of future lunar research stations. Around 2035, the basic type of lunar research station will be built.
The construction of the International Lunar Research Station will be divided into two stages:
The first stage is the basic construction, which will focus on the South Pole region of the moon and have the ability to conduct scientific research operations within a range of 100 kilometers. Through the integrated information network of Earth and Moon, multiple tasks such as unmanned lunar exploration, manned lunar landing, and international cooperation can be interconnected and operated, forming a comprehensive lunar based scientific research platform with basic functions and elements.
The second phase is expansion oriented construction, which will build a comprehensive lunar station network by 2050, with the lunar orbital station as the hub, the lunar south pole station as the center, and the lunar equator and far side as the exploration nodes, forming a large-scale comprehensive scientific research platform that is unmanned in the long term, manned in the short term, fully functional, and continuously stable in operation.
So, can I access the internet on the moon?
Guan Feng, director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration, pointed out that Chang'e-8 needs to consider its communication capabilities, as there will definitely be wireless networks and energy sources on the moon.
If we can access internet,mobile network booster would be needed?
The concept of utilizing cell phone repeaters on the Moon is intriguing and not entirely out of the realm of possibility, although the application would differ substantially from terrestrial use cases due to the extreme conditions and unique requirements of lunar communications.
Challenges of Using Cell Phone Repeaters on the Moon
Vacuum of Space: Unlike Earth, the vacuum of space does not conduct radio waves in the same manner as air does. While radio frequencies do propagate in space, the environment poses different challenges compared to Earth.
Distance and Propagation Loss: The vast distance between the Earth and the Moon results in significant signal attenuation. A simple terrestrial mobile repeater wouldn't be capable of handling the propagation losses incurred over such great distances.
Power Requirements: Due to the aforementioned factors, any communication equipment used on the Moon would require substantial power to maintain adequate signal strength, which could be a challenge considering the harsh solar and thermal conditions on the lunar surface.
Radiation and Extreme Conditions: Electronic components on the Moon must withstand radiation, extreme temperatures, and micrometeoroid impacts—all of which can affect the reliability and longevity of equipment.
In conclusion, while the idea of using "cell phone repeater" on the Moon might seem straightforward when translated from terrestrial contexts, the realities of space exploration necessitate innovative approaches and technologies tailored to the lunar environment. Future lunar communication architectures will likely consist of complex networks involving multiple elements working together to provide reliable and efficient communications under the extreme conditions found beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Mobile signal repeaters, also known as mobile cell phone signal amplifiers or mobile phone signal amplifiers, have indeed been widely used on Earth, especially in areas with poor signal coverage. The design of such devices aims to capture weak external signals, amplify them, and rebroadcast them to indoor or other signal blind spots to provide more stable and stronger mobile signal services. The following are several application scenarios and importance of mobile signal repeaters on Earth:
Family and residential environment
In urban or rural areas, households may encounter poor mobile phone signals due to terrain obstacles such as mountains, buildings blocking or being far away from base stations. In this case, installing mobile signal repeaters can significantly improve indoor call quality and data transmission speed, ensuring daily communication needs.
Office buildings and commercial premises
Large office buildings and basements often become "signal dead zones" due to building materials such as concrete, glass, and metal blocking signals. In order to maintain smooth communication among employees and external connections, companies may choose to install multiple mobile signal repeaters to optimize signal coverage throughout the entire building.
Underground facilities and tunnels
Underground parking lots, subway stations, tunnels, and other enclosed spaces often lack sufficient mobile phone signals. By setting up high-power repeaters specifically designed for these low signal environments, the problem of signal loss in such areas can be effectively solved, ensuring smooth communication in emergency situations.
Agriculture and remote areas
For vast farms or remote communities, establishing a complete telecommunications infrastructure is costly and impractical. The adoption of low-cost signal booster relay solutions can to some extent compensate for this deficiency, helping residents maintain basic communication connections, especially playing a key role in emergency rescue or disaster warning.
Vehicles and transportation vehicles
Car mounted signal boosters are designed specifically for cars, boats, and even airplanes, and can improve the quality of mobile phone signals for internal passengers during movement. This is particularly useful for people who frequently travel in mountainous areas or by sea, as it allows for good communication during long-distance trips.
In short, mobile signal repeaters play a crucial role globally. Whether it is for daily life or special industry needs, this technology can effectively expand and strengthen the coverage of mobile signals, ensuring the efficiency and reliability of information exchange. With the advancement of technology, the functionality and performance of future signal repeaters will continue to be optimized and upgraded, further expanding their application scenarios and better serving the diverse communication needs of human society.