Um... "Can You Hear Me Now?" We May Soon Have Cellular Coverage... On The Moon?!

Since we all likely had one of these literally. . . indestructible brick phones from Nokia in the 1990s, I have to laugh with you -- at this one. Per CNN, then -- the more whimsical part of this Intuitive Machines "drill for water" mission. . . is this. I was unaware (until my live cast, earlier tonight) that part of this lunar science packet includes a hardware module to throw up a Nokia "test net" cellular service / and beacon, near the South Pole of the Moon. WTH?!

This is a secondary, demonstration only package -- which was partnered with Nokia -- and it will attempt to set a lunar cellular phone network in place. The goal is (at some distant future date) to be able to use it -- in lieu of two way radio transmissions -- back to Earth, should we establish longer term human outposts on the Moon (as I say, at least two decades from now):

. . .The Lunar Outpost rover and Grace hopper will also each test out the use of cellular network devices on the moon as part of a NASA-sponsored experiment spearheaded by Nokia.

All told, the IM-2 Athena lander is expected to operate for about 10 days on the moon. . . .

That's. . . just wild. Truly wild -- from indestructible brick phones 30 years ago -- to cell calls, now -- all over the Moon?! What a world, indeed.

नमस्ते