5G in Space?

Imagine a future where we could have 5G communications not on the ground but in space. Well, that future might be nearer than you think. Today, on January 6, 2021, a supply ship named Cygnus left the ISS to test 5G communications technologies and spark fires in orbit.

Cygnus Being Held by the Canadarm2
Robotic Arm on the ISS

Cygnus is a supply ship developed by Northrop Grumman. Cygnus is named NASA astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first female astronaut of Indian descent and one of the seven astronauts who died in the Columbia disaster in 2003. Cygnus was launched to the ISS in October 2020 to supply the ISS with scientific equipment, supplies, hardware, and even a space toilet. Cygnus was filled with trash and undocked from the ISS on January 6, 2021. It will re-enter and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere on January 26, 2021. However, before doing that, Cygnus will do a few tests: the SharkSat 5G technology experiment and the Saffire-V fire investigation.

Northrop Grumman Engineer Preparing
SharkSat's Integration with Cygnus

In the SharkSat 5G technology experiment, SharkSat and other devices will collect data and send it down to Earth. This will be done to help further develop Ka-band software-defined radio. Now you may be wondering what Ka-band is. Ka-band is a less crowded part of the electromagnetic spectrum than the other communication bandwidths used in space. Cygnus is testing equipment in the investigation, including integrated circuits, multiprocessor systems, and digital receivers. NASA is hoping to use Ka-band and 5G to communicate with satellites in space and for people in space to connect to the internet.

Cygnus also has Saffire-V. Sapphire-V will help study fire’s behavior in microgravity. More importantly, scientists hope to learn how to monitor and extinguish a fire in space. This, in turn, will help astronauts stay safe. Sapphire-V will also demonstrate fire detection, combustion product monitoring, and post-fire cleanup. These are all similar hardware that will be used in future spacecraft.

Scientist and Engineers Working on Saffire-V

Cygnus may seem like an average supply ship at first. However, it is more than just that. It is innovation, an experiment, a memorial, and the future. With these two experiments that are going to be done by Cygnus, we will be a step closer to the future of space exploration.

Sources:

Heidman, Kelly. “Fire in the Hole: Studying How Flames Grow in Space.” NASA, NASA, 11 Sept. 2015, www.nasa.gov/feature/fire-in-the-hole-studying-how-flames-grow-in-space. 

Howell, Elizabeth. “Cygnus Cargo Ship Leaves Space Station to Test 5G Tech and Spark Fires in Orbit.” Space.com, Space, 6 Jan. 2021, www.space.com/cygnus-cargo-ship-ng-14-leaves-space-station. 

Johnson, Michael. “ISS, Cygnus Test Technology for 5G and Other Benefits.” NASA, NASA, 5 Jan. 2021, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/sharksat-demo.