Last Updated on January 9, 2024
A startup company is teasing the idea of the internet on Moon. Aquarian Space a US-based company says it received $650,000 in seed funding to start a broadband internet on Moon.
Though sounding irrational on the surface, it can’t be invalidated. The satellite internet has broadened the probability of internet from the space. So, we aren’t throwing the idea of the internet on Moon and even among the planets out of the window.
Aquarian Space received the funding to start an interplanetary broadband internet that would link the Earth, Moon, and Mars. The company announced on Thursday, March 17 that it drew the funding from Draper Associates. The company expects to deploy its first broadband project before 2024.
Aquarian Space says on its website that while humans have spent much for space missions, but it pushed back due to the “limited communication abilities in interplanetary space.” The company says the current system allows “a fraction of that vital scientific data we collect from existing satellites. We can do better than this.”
100 Mbps internet linking planets
The company wants to set up a system it calls Solnet high-speed network of a satellite capable of 100 Mbps in speed. The company says it is already working on its lunar broadband system with partners. Some of them are from NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
CLPS essentially assists private companies to build lunar hardware for its upcoming flagship project Artemis missions to the Moon.
Kelly Larson, CEO of Aquarian Space says, “In 2021 there were 13 landers, orbiters, and rovers on and around the moon. By 2030, we will have around 200, creating a multibillion-dollar lunar economy. But this can’t happen without solid, reliable Earth-to-moon communications.”
Also read: Nepal’s Internet Bandwidth Touches 1 Tbps Mark
Growing competition for lunar broadband
Seems the companies are bent on occupying the new frontiers for internet penetration and take a lead. SpaceX is aggressively expanding its satellite internet. It is also helping keep Ukrainians stay connected as their fiber broadband suffered repeated outages due to the Russian invasion.
Next, Elon Musk headed a satellite broadband company will be part of space communication by Polaris Dawn mission later in 2022. And NASA has warned that Starlink’s constellation of probable 40K+ satellites will pose an impediment to detecting asteroid collision. Aquarian, however, says its broadband system will also include planetary defense data that includes asteroid detection and Space Situation Awareness (SSA) for lunar safety.
With companies tapping into the lunar space for the internet, we could as well connect with heavenly bodies (sic).
How do you see the idea of an interplanetary broadband internet network? Do leave your remarks in the comments below.
