Science
Related: About this forumInterplanetary internet The orbit wide web
HAVING helped spread the internet's tentacles across the globe, boffins are now thinking of extending them further. Assorted space agencies believe it would be rather nifty if the world wide web encompassed more of the world than just one planet. Those at the European Space Agency (ESA) are therefore designing an interplanetary network, which might help space stations, planetary rovers, astronauts and ground stations communicate more effectively.
In October they are planning to test just such a network by getting an astronaut in the International Space Station (ISS) to control a rover on Earth. This will be a test of the technology for use on future Mars missions. They are also exploring the possibility of creating a universal information-exchange system, allowing many of the different space agencies to share data quickly.
Nestor Peccia, who heads ground-software development at the ESA, says that the main challenges are more political than technological. An interplanetary web's assets, like Earth ground stations, relay satellites, rovers, moon stations, etc, will probably belong to national space agencies. Government agencies may be reluctant to share them with others and it may be a while before enough space entrepreneurs like Elon Musk stump up the amounts of money need in to mimic Earth-bound internet's decentralised charm in orbit.
These would be considerable. It tends to cost around $50m just to launch a single satellite, not counting design and construction, though Mr Musk's company, SpaceX, may yet bring that down. And a fully fledged interplanetary web would need a sizeable flotilla.
For now, orbital internet is limited to the ISS. Since January 2010 its astronauts have had access to so-called Crew Support LAN, which uses satellites to provide a brisk, reliable internet connection. Before, going online in orbit was a hassle. E-mails, tweets and other online exchanges had to be relayed through a colleague on Earth, hardly ideal, especially for intimate communications. The current system has undoubtedly improved the quality of life in the ISS, helping to ease the sense of isolation. It is a far cry from interplanetary social networking. But it is a start.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/05/interplanetary-internet
longship
(40,416 posts)I would love broadband here in the Manistee Nat'l Forest. All I get is dial up, not worth the money, and this iPhone here, which is not much better than dialup.
Sigh!
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)BPL Modems
BPL modems use silicon chipsets specially designed to handle the work load of pulling data out of an electric current. Using specially developed modulation techniques and adaptive algorithms, BPL modems are capable of handling powerline noise on a wide spectrum.
A BPL modem is plug and play and is roughly the size of a common power adapter. It plugs into a common wall socket, and an Ethernet cable running to your computer finishes the connection. Wireless versions are also available.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bpl5.htm
The world's fastest and cheapest internet connectivity
April 7, 2008 Computerworld Malaysia is reporting that Broadband over Powerline (BPL) provider Velchip Sdn Bhd has formalised three major partnerships to advance the worlds biggest BPL project announced earlier this month. The project intends offering 60 million people unlimited high speed Internet connection of 224Mbps (megabits per second) at a cost of only around RM5 (US$1.58) per user per month. Its the fastest and cheapest internet connectivity in the world.
BPL modems use existing electrical power lines to deliver high speed Internet access and data transmission.
Velchip is a Pinnacle worldwide partner of the upcoming World Congress on Information Technology, to be held in Kuala Lumpur in May this year. Computerworld Malaysia is the official IT media for the WCIT.
http://www.gizmag.com/the-fastest-and-cheapest-internet-connectivity-in-the-world/9116/
longship
(40,416 posts)But I get the monthly magazine and they are not promoting it. However, I do have a 220K power line literally In my front yard. Maybe I can leech broadband with appropriate circuitry.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)the times and the world thanks to deregulation and growing monopolistic policies instigated in the last 15 years.
Bill Moyer did a piece on how the telecoms did that to the US
with taxpayers money.
bananas
(27,509 posts)Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Like I said US telecoms don't like it when they can charge an arm and a leg but world wide it is growing.
jakeXT
(10,575 posts)NASA is spending roughly $175 million on three new technology demonstration projects, one of which is aiming to take HD data streaming to Mars. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) will explore reliable optical communications technologies that could boost data rates between Earth and deep space by a couple of orders of magnitude.
http://m.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/nasa-optical-communications-demo-could-boost-deep-space-data-rates-100-fold