AGI Showcase: Politecnico di Torino - Mobile Network for Space Telecommunications

Space is the latest frontier, and you'd best believe we want network service while we’re there. So that is why we’re so excited to showcase the work done by Marco Maffucci at Politecnico di Torino (Polytechnic of Turin). Politecnico di Torino uses AGI’s Educational STK licenses like many schools across the globe. In this case, Marco at Polytechnic used STK to look at mobile networks for space telecommunications, or 5G on the Moon.

STK enables you to simulate communication systems on satellites in space and on the surfaces of Earth and the Moon— all in the mission environment. The students at Politecnico di Torino are developing digital prototypes for future technology. Maffucci explained in his thesis, “[t]he objective of this study, performed in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Turin, is to carry out an evaluation on the possible use of mobile networks in the space sector.” They used STK for the design phase of their study.“[STK’s] use within this study allowed [them] to simulate the entire mission architecture envisaged for communications, from terminals on planet Earth to those settled in the lunar environment,” said Maffucci.

The students evaluated the success of these communication links using direct line-of-sight access, transmitter and receiver models, ground station placement distances, satellite constellations around the Moon versus laser communications, and much more. “The results show how it is possible to use communication tools currently in use on Earth for the construction of a lunar network, adapting the equipment to the space environment and arranging them according to the limits dictated by the morphology of the selected lunar area.”

So, let's go to the moon, and we'll give you a ring when we get there! Check out the entire study here. We hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired us.

To learn more about the EAP, visit https://www.agi.com/about/eap. Do you have an interesting project you’d like to talk about? Then let us know by emailing Education@agi.com! AGI is always looking for exciting projects for future showcases.