Future Lunar surface comms using Cognitive 3gpp Radio Access Networks for Ubiquitous Mission success (FULCRUM)

AiRANACULUS, a developer of NASA sponsored CLAIRE and INSPiRE technologies, along with, Reed Engineering (Prof. Jeff Reed, Virginia Tech, IEEE Fellow and Dr. Nishith Tripathi, IAB/NTN experts) and Prof. Ricardo Lent (DTN Expert, U. of Houston) propose Future Lunar comms architecture using Cognitive 3gpp Radio Access Networks for Ubiquitous Mission success (FULCRUM), that provides cognitive delay tolerant Networking leveraging disparate technologies such as 4G / 5G / 5G-NTN, Wi-Fi, and Legacy NASA Radios. This enables resilient communications and reduces the probability of outage. Shackleton crater on the Lunar South Pole has an area of approximately 346 Sq. km. NASA astronauts may perform variety of activities within that area ranging from descent, docking, exploration, mining, scientific experiments, astronomy etc. It is imperative to provide pervasive connectivity to NASA astronauts and support their missions. Due to the challenging terrain even within the Shackleton crater, providing outage free communications is extremely challenging. Coverage may be expanded by using more 4G/5G Base Stations / gNodeBs (gNBs). However, providing optical fiber backhaul connectivity to various gNodeBs is extremely challenging. 3GPP specified Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) can significantly help in expanding 4G/5G deployment on the Lunar surface. During Phase II, FULCRUM will focus on design, development, implementation and prototyping of IAB and NTN capabilities to expand the 4G/5G coverage on the Lunar surface. FULCRUM will reduce the mission and network operations burden, increase mission science data return, improve resource efficiencies for NASA missions and communication networks, reduce power consumption, and ensure resilience in the unpredictable space environment. FULCRUM will be enhanced by the NASA sponsored CLAIRE and INSPiRE technologies, which are protocol agnostic and provide heterogeneous multi-vendor network optimization.