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.

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Astronaut Pr0n

[dryguy]

093:31:32 Parker: Apollo 15, Houston. (Long pause)

093:32:06 Irwin: Houston, 15.

093:32:07 Parker: Good morning, Jim. We're waking up you a little early to tell you a few things before you go around the corner because you only have four minutes in the old Flight Plan. So, if you guys are awake and ready to listen, I'll give you a few words.

093:32:23 Irwin: Okay, Bob. Go ahead.

093:32:25 Parker: Okay. At the moment - Okay, one short one. We'd like you to go High Gain Antenna to Auto so we don't lose you just before you go around the corner there. Okay...

093:32:49 Irwin: We're in Auto.

093:32:50 Parker: Jim - we seem to have atransmission problem on the High Gain Antenna - we want you to perform a systems check on your end...

093:32:55 (Sound of Irwin smacking co-pilot who is busy downloading the latests pics of Britney Spears fakes) Houston, I think we have isolated the problem, we are now clear for transmission...