The 100-Million Mile Network

mykepredko writes "eWeek has an article on the network and radio topography of the two Mars rovers and how they communicate with satellites in Mars' orbit as well as the Earth. The article ends by giving four rules for maintaining a space network, a) Automate processes, b) Bulletproof your gear, c) Be persistent and d) Simulate potential problems, which are probably good rules for any network."

Comments

Rule Z:

[Anonymous Coward]

Never have a public webpage that can be linked to from Slashdot.

Good tips

[GlassUser]

b) Bulletproof your gear

I'd think micrometeorite-proofing my gear would be more useful.

Yeah right

[Deraj DeZine]

I didn't RTFA, but it sounds like they're just running ethernet cables (or OC12 or whatever) to Mars. Didn't they stop to think that the planets move? Ridiculous! The ESA and NASA really need to get their acts together.

wow thanks

[Brahmastra]

The article ends by giving four rules for maintaining a space network, a) Automate processes, b) Bulletproof your gear, c) Be persistent and d) Simulate potential problems, which are probably good rules for any network."

I'm going to try this out on my space network immediately

is that still considered WAN?

[Munden]

MWAN - Multi-World Area Network i guess....

That rules out Linksys

[Anonymous Coward]

If only the Beagle 2 people had seen this article beforehand.

In summary...

[mikeophile]

To enact all four rules at once, do the following.

Persistantly empty clip after clip of rounds from an automatic rifle at your prototype. If it survives, begin production.

Makinig seem harder than it really is

[slashname3]

They are just perpetuating the myth that the rovers are really on mars. Everyone knows that it is all done in a Hollywood sound stage. The problem a few weeks ago with the the first rover was traced to someone using the mircowave oven and causing interference with their radios on the set. Anyone want another burrito heated up?

Re:b) Bulletproof your gear

[chiph]

Haven't you heard?

Martians in pickup trucks drive around the surface of the planet, shooting at any Earth landers they see.

Where do you think we got the term "Redneck" from?

Chip H.

priorities...

[chow_mein]

and I can't even get a cable/DSL modem yet!!! new slogan... Earth First, We'll Network the Other Planets Later

Maybe it should just be 3 rules...

[ryanvm]

c) Be persistent

Do they really need that in the handbook? What did they use to do when they had a problem?

Engineer 1: "Shit Fred, I can't ping it."
Engineer 2: "Oh well, cest la vie. You wanna grab a beer?"

.22's won't piece IBM XT's

[DR SoB]

Bulletproofing your gear is extremely important. The old IBM XT's were up for that, I took one camping once (just the case and CPU) and we set up it and took shot's at it with .22's. Only 1 shot pierced the 1/4 inch thick steel case, and the only actual damage done was a really noisy fan afterwards. Think martians have more firepower then .22's, though? d'oh!

Re:Use OLD technology

[dsci]

I use W2K as a platform.

I use what has worked reliably for years and years.

Isn't that a contradiction in terms?

Channel 25?

[Unnngh!]

The rover-to-orbiter link uses UHF radio-the same basic technology used for broadcasting channels 14 and higher to television sets in the United States

Clearly, Mars Channel 25 caused the original Spirit communication breakdown by interrupting it with an episode of Days of our red, dreary lives.