We in the north like to think among the best when it comes to IT development and we’re working on improving and replacing the slow ADSL technology. At the same time, Turbo 3G has taken mobile phones to new levels of speed with download rates up to 7,2Mbps. This is nothing though compared to what NASA is using to receive information from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
NASA use a 32.5cm pipe that acts as an amplifier for the data network of the orbiter and feeds LRO 461GB of data every day. The Orbiter does this at 100MB/s, which would equal a wireless Internet connection at 800Mbps.
The high transfer rate enables LRO to send data and pictures at near realtime to NASA’s data storage where the high resolution pictures are used for, e.g., creating 3D maps of the surface of the moon.
The special amplifying technology use electrodes in a vacuum pipe that is said to be more powerful than equivalent transistor amplifiers and can soon be used with satellites orbiting the Earth, but for more noble purposes than increasing the download speed for file sharers.
If used on communication satellites, it could allow for much better tracking, monitoring and control of transoceanic flights and ships traveling beyond the reach of radar.
It also could enable real-time data transfer from future Earth-orbiting satellites. Such satellites are used to track migratory animals, endangered species, icebergs, volcanic eruptions and forest fires, and to aid in search and rescue operations. They’re used to study climate change and meteorology as well.
Concept rendering of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
More at NASA.
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