Busy Signals for Deep Space Experiments

lionchild writes "Just when you hated getting those 'Network Busy' signals on your Cell Phones..imagine what it's like to deal with communications in deep space after all these years of putting satellites and probes out there into the space lanes. Check the article out on space.com " The saddest part is the poor state that the deep space network of dishes is in, with some of the 70 meter antennae approaching their fifth decade with no repair funds on the horizon.

Comments

Expected trade-off

[Thatmushroom]

How many can be suprised about this phenomenom? We live in a very self-centric society that is more concerned about our own interests, unless if those interfere with ours. This is a widespread attitude in this country, reaching from the common man concerned about the television programming that those satellites are beaming down and obscuring some of the DSN antennas to those at NASA and the NSA, who have also put a great many objects into orbit, including those that are taxing the system beyond its capacity.

Scientists could continue to exacerbate the problem, as many have personal ideas about what is more important, their future NASA rovers or an improved method of keeping in contact with other projects. Funds diverted to repair and upgrade generally means that funds are diverted away from their projects, and few would readily give up funding. One of the ways to gain support for expansion and repair would have to convince people that investing in this now will have definite benefits in their projects later.

Interesting choice of words

[Wolfstone]

"We are concerned that our 70-meter antennae are getting quite old," Miller said. "Late in the next decade, they'll be 50 years old."

What an interesting way to say "Right now, they're 30 years old."

Hmm - don't always sing the $$$ song

[Muad]

Hate to state the obvious, but always beating our chests with the "there is no money for science" theme is not bound to generate sympathy, especially when the poor and old DSN has just received the money to build a new 34m dish at the Madrid station.

Why not reading the article before spitting out the old song about money and science? Have you considered what state is the Russian deep space network now ? tracking is available only above Russia (which is probably 14 timezones, but is still barely 1/2 of what the DSN can do) and the mighty fleet of tracking ships has been sold for scrap metal. Heck, Russia can't even track objects in Earth orbit for the full span of the orbit! So think before posting!


-Muad'Dib

PS: If instead you told me that some of the 400bln tossed by Bush IInd in the Pentagon's budget could be spent better than just in funding the "military/industrial combine" Eisenhower was scared of, I totally agree. There is no match militarily for the US, but they *have* to spend 400bln in things that do not increase homeland security - why ? well, simply because the weapons/defense industry is filling the pockets of a congressman near you.... :-(