SAN FRANCISCO – Solstar Space will provide Wi-Fi access for crew and devices in the NASA lunar Gateway Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, under a contract the New Mexico in-orbit communications startup signed with Northrop Grumman Corp.

Within the HALO module, which is scheduled to launch in 2024 and serve as an initial habitat for crews visiting the lunar Gateway, Solstar will provide Wi-Fi access through a device smaller than a laptop.

“Persistent connectivity is crucial for space-based operations,” Solstar co-founder Mark Matossian said in a statement.

The Solstar wireless access point “will provide a Wi-Fi network for connectivity that will support astronaut communications with ground control, the lunar surface and spacecraft, while also supporting payload integration, experiments and more,” Matossian added. “It will securely connect Wi-Fi-enabled components including computers and IoT sensors, creating a collection of space-based networked devices.”