Potential problems with this design are consequences of the fact that we are deploying a massive system to sample and transmit the bandwidth needed to be analyzed. If components go bad, which they will, how greatly will the resolution and accuracy of the telescope be affected? Furthermore, because so many channels are being employed to send data, how can the data streams be efficiently coordinated for continuous, real-time streaming and capturing? Streams can be coordinated by spreading sequence, however, once those streams have been despread perhaps to send the data back to the earth from a satellite, data must be correctly interleaved. Once again we ask: if a few sets of bits here and there are mixed up, how will the final performance of the system be affected? Furthermore, how can this unit be serviced? Our cost estimates assume no replacements or serviceability, yet these problems will surely crop up. While sensors and satellites in space are sometimes able to be serviced by astronauts rotating in orbit, the far side of the moon is doubtful for some time.
However, NASA is currently planning on developing a permanent lunar settlement on the Moon's South Pole [11]. Not only does this mean that equipment may be serviced if necessary but even better, data processing stations may be set up on the lunar surface itself, saving vast amounts of bandwidth in transmission while being able to sample even greater amounts of existing spectrum for radio science, among other things. But if scientists haphazardly develop their lunar network, which will surely be deployed, one of the very reasons for going to the far side of the moon may be diminished as man-made interference and noise extends beyond Terra Firma.
