NASA awards $38m contract to build 5G network for the Moon

NASA has awarded Modulate Space Corporation a contract to develop key elements of a 5G communications system for use on the lunar surface, with built-in Wi-Fi 6, for the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

The space agency said on 30 September that the accelerated effort is organised into two primary work areas that together will develop a scalable, standards-based communications capability designed to support future Moon base surface operations.

The contract, titled “5G System and Lunar Surface Communications Evaluation and Radio Propagation Measurements”, is a firm-fixed-price award worth approximately $38 million. The first phase — a 5G network-in-a-box development and laboratory demonstration — runs from 1 October 2026 through 31 January 2028. A second phase, covering an integrated lunar 5G and Wi-Fi surface network with a flight demonstration on the Moon itself, runs through the end of 2028.

Through the demonstrations, NASA said it will acquire the hardware, firmware and software technology needed to advance an integrated lunar communications system, giving the agency insight into the system architecture and operational performance while retaining flexibility to evolve the technology for future missions.

The award is part of NASA’s broader push to build the communications infrastructure that will support sustained human presence on the Moon under the Artemis programme.

Sources

• NASA news release (CONTRACT RELEASE C26-014, 30 September 2026): “NASA Awards Contract to Develop 5G Communications for Moon” — https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-contract-to-develop-5g-communications-for-moon/
• NASA image article “At the Edge of Light” (hero image source, public domain) — https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/at-the-edge-of-light/