IMS2026 Spotlight: NASA, Synopsys, Ansys & Keysight Demonstrate Lunar Communications

At IMS 2026, Shawn Carpenter of Synopsys and Bob Stephens of Keysight Technologies showcased a collaborative demonstration developed alongside NASA and Ansys to virtually prototype communications networks for future lunar missions. The demonstration combined RF simulation, propagation modeling, channel emulation, and wireless testing to evaluate how communications systems could perform on the Moon before deployment. Using lunar terrain data collected by NASA, the team modeled a 4G communications network operating around 2200 MHz, consisting of a base station and two mobile users representing lunar vehicles traversing the lunar surface. The workflow included: • Lunar terrain and propagation modeling • Antenna and RF system simulation • Ray tracing and channel characterization • Wireless channel emulation • Live radio testing and validation • End-to-end HD video transmission According to Shawn Carpenter, the simulation environment incorporates detailed lunar surface models and RF propagation effects, including scattering, diffraction, and absorption, enabling engineers to accurately predict communication performance across mission scenarios. Bob Stephens demonstrated how Keysight's channel emulation platform recreates the dynamically changing lunar RF environment, allowing real radios to communicate through an emulated Moon-to-surface channel. The setup also included live monitoring of radio performance and transmission of multiple HD video streams across the emulated network. The demonstration highlights how digital engineering, virtual prototyping, and RF channel emulation can help reduce mission risk while accelerating the development of future lunar communications infrastructure. Watch this IMS 2026 demonstration to see how NASA, Synopsys, Ansys, and Keysight are enabling the next generation of lunar connectivity. Subscribe to everythingRF for more IMS 2026 booth tours, product demonstrations, and technical coverage from the RF and microwave industry. #IMS2026 #NASA #Synopsys #Keysight #Ansys #LunarCommunications #SpaceTechnology #RFEngineering #WirelessCommunications #DigitalTwin #ChannelEmulation #everythingRF ‪@mttims‬ ‪@synopsys‬