Mobiles on the moon? Nasa prepares trial for takeoff

Director of space science at the BNSC, David Parker, said the early lunar system will be comparable to the "satellite phone network of the 1980s and 1990s on earth".

He said: "The robots and astronauts would be spread out from the base to do exploration and some sorts of comms infrastructure would be needed. MoonLite is taking the first step towards that network."

Photo stories

Check out silicon.com's latest photo stories here…

1. Photos: Google Android comes out to play

2. Photos: The high-tech future of retail

3. Photos: MoD tracks with deadly accuracy

4. Photos: Behind the scenes at Mobile World Congress 2008

5. Photos: Zoom in on London from the air…

6. Photos: Power-generating leg brace goes for a walk

7. Photos: What should be crowned the king of Apple cool?

8. Photos: When tech chiefs rock out...

9. Photos of the year

10. Photos: The super 3D body scanner

The explorer will rely on the expertise of BNSC satellite specialists from Guildford, who have built 27 satellites to date, with Nasa making the communications module.

The final system would initially be served by one or two satellites providing coverage of the south pole, with scope for more satellites to be added as a greater range is required.

Data throughput in the MoonLite system would range from up to 3kbps for the downlink and up to 2kbps for the uplink.

The MoonLite mission proposal is undergoing a review of its science goals and costs before it is approved.

The UK recently published its Civil Space Strategy: 2008 - 2012 and beyond and set out a vision including: establishing an international space facility at Harwell, Oxfordshire - focusing on climate change, robotic space exploration and applications, closer involvement with international initiatives in space exploration to places such as the Moon and Mars and setting up a National Space Technology Programme.