NASA Electric Medan Trials To Optimize Communication On Moon Space Station

Lunar Gateway illustration in lunar orbit (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA A number of technicians at NASA's Johnson Space Center conducted electrical field tests on hardware for communications at Lunar Gateway, the first space station to orbit the Moon.

As the Artemis mission goes on, Gateway will be a place for astronauts to prepare exploration activities on the Moon. Like Earth-orbiting space stations, Gateway must have tools or communication systems connected to Earth. This site will have a high strengthening antenna to connect the South Pole of the Moon to Gateway region in orbits around the Moon and Earth. Before this tool was used, NASA carried out testing at the level of electric field emitted from the antenna. Timothy Kennedy, one of NASA technicians, said that this test would show whether the electric field emitted by high-power antennas had high accuracy. It is hoped that NASA could better understand the level of electric field of Gateway antennas. "We hone our capabilities in carrying out model validation measurements," Kennedy said. "This allows a margin reduction at the antenna closure needed to protect equipment and crews, as well as maximize the range of communication."

In addition to optimizing communications at Gateway, predictions of the electric field level can help NASA establish a security zone around a parabolic reflector antenna. The determination of this safe zone will protect astronauts without compromising communication. During this test, technicians used electric field probes and waveguides that could measure the strength and quality of electromagnetic signals. This tool can scan the terrain near the antenna with high strength. NASA did not explain exactly when the tests were carried out. The US space agency only explained that they carried out testing in anechoic, a special space for carrying out electromagnetic wave measurements in controlled environments.