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NASA Probe Blasts 461 Gigabytes of Moon Data Daily
coondoggie writes "On its current space scouting mission, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is using a pumped up communications device to deliver 461 gigabytes of data and images per day, at a rate of up to 100 Mbps.
As the first high data rate K-band transmitter to fly on a NASA spacecraft, the 13-inch-long tube, called a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier, is making it possible for NASA scientists to receive massive amounts of images and data about the moon's surface and environment.
The amplifier was built by L-3 Communications Electron Technologies in conjunction with NASA's Glenn Research Center. The device uses electrodes in a vacuum tube to amplify microwave signals to high power. It's ideal for sending large amounts of data over a long distance because it provides more power and more efficiency than its alternative, the transistor amplifier, NASA stated." It kills me that the moon has better bandwidth than my house.
Their Cingular bill is going to suck.
But can it learn to love?
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
I'm sure you can still beat the moon in latency.
Anybody else think it's funny that in this case, a vacuum tube is a step up from a transistor?
You just KNOW that the original name for the device was "Traveling Wave Amplified Tube" until some NASA jackass noticed the acronym and ruined it for everyone.
That much data and Comcast would throttle it no matter what the scientists said. If AT&T had it going through their "unlimited" 3G connection, NASA would be hosed and we would be increasing the national debt by trillions.
One last thing, I m wondering if the **AA doesn't want access to the data stream to make sure it isn't a bittorrent containing their precious copyrighted work. After all, we all know there is no legitimate use for that much bandwidth.
* Carthago Delenda Est *
Tomorrow's headline: "RIAA Lobbies Congress to Shut Down NASA"
-William Brendel
That is the most eloquent "RTFA" I've ever seen...
I have never before heard a serious conversation pitting the respective benefits of trannys vs. tubes in this context...
...and asks for astronomical damages to be paid?
Ezekiel 23:20