NASA is one step closer to putting Wi-Fi on the Moon. Yes, really! You see, the space agency has awarded Solstar Space, a small communications company based in Santa Fe, a $150,000 SBIR Phase I contract to develop what it calls a Lunar Wi-Fi Access Point. The system, known as LWIFI-AP, is being designed to keep astronauts, rovers, and even orbiting spacecraft connected during upcoming Artemis missions.
The Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services programs will depend on reliable data links as the United States tries to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface. NASA wants communication gear that can survive harsh conditions while staying efficient in terms of size, weight, and power. That means hardware that can handle radiation, extreme temperatures, and the unique demands of cislunar operations. Right now, there isn’t a commercial product that meets all those needs. And so, that is where Solstar comes in.
Solstar says its system will support multiple wireless modes and bands, including Wi-Fi and 3GPP, to ensure compatibility across mission systems. The company argues that just as Wi-Fi reshaped daily life on Earth, it will also become essential for working and living on the Moon. NASA’s technical requirements call for connectivity not just inside landers and habitats but also for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle, payloads delivered through CLPS, and modules aboard the Lunar Gateway.
If successful, the Solstar LWIFI-AP could become the backbone of lunar connectivity, enabling real-time navigation, scientific collaboration, and communication between crew, equipment, and mission control. While the current award is only a Phase I study, it lays the groundwork for a flight-ready version that could one day serve as the wireless hub for a functioning lunar economy.
For now, this is just a research contract, not a full deployment. Still, it raises an interesting question: is Wi-Fi truly the right standard for the Moon, or will future missions need more specialized protocols? Either way, the idea of astronauts connecting to lunar Wi-Fi feels less like science fiction and more like a problem NASA is actively trying to solve.
And yes, if Solstar’s vision pans out, one day astronauts may be asking the same question we all do at home: what’s the Wi-Fi password?
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