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New Kind of Orbit Could Ease Mars Communications

Posted by kdawson on from the crossing-gravitational-gradients dept.

japan_dan writes "An interesting way to enable Earth-Mars communication when the Sun occludes the direct radio line-of-sight: ESA proposes placing a pair of continuous-thrusting relay satellites, using a solar electric propulsion system — one in front and ahead of Mars, the other behind and below — with both following non-Keplerian, so-called 'B-orbits'. This means the direction of thrust is perpendicular to the satellites' direction of flight, allowing them to 'hover' with both Earth and Mars in view. Quoting from the Q&A: 'We found that a pair of relay satellites would only have to switch on their thrusters for about 90 days out of every 2.13-year period, and this solution would only increase the one-way signal travel time by one minute, so it could be effective.'" Here is the paper describing non-Keplerian orbits (PDF).

17 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. That's good news by Lord+Lode · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's good news for the diplomatic Human / Martian relations.

    1. Re:That's good news by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1, Funny

      You'd think, but the fools are assuming the extra minute of round-trip communication time isn't a problem because it doesn't seriously affect their reaction times. But they fail to understand that in the Martian language, time is a critical component of meaning! And extra minute of latency could make the difference between saying "We accept your offer of peaceful relations. We will begin transmitting cultural information immediately," and "We accept your offer of peaceful relations... Psych! We will begin bombarding you with Vanilla Ice CDs immediately, losers!"

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    2. Re:That's good news by mabhatter654 · · Score: 3, Funny

      As long as we don't go bombing their planet to look for water.... that's BAD for relations.

  2. Who needs full-time communications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Houston> We haven't talked for a day, what's up?
    Mars rover> Hey, I moved one meter!
    Houston> No shit!

    1. Re:Who needs full-time communications by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wow, I had the exact same conversation with my unemployed brother-in-law yesterday!

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
  3. Eh? by wcrowe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I understand "behind and below". WTF is "in front and ahead"?

    --
    Proverbs 21:19
  4. Re:lets wake up here by fractalVisionz · · Score: 4, Funny

    and let either private enterprise (?) explore space

    I agree, even 6 year-olds are doing it.

  5. Immature by ZinnHelden · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry, I tried to read the summary but I didn't make it past 'continually-thrusting'.

  6. Re:Wouldn't it make more sense.... by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...on the house outside LaGrange
    Just let me know
    If you want to go
    To that home out on the range
    They got a lot o' nice girls there...

    -ZZ Top singing about outer space

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
  7. ANKOS... by smitty777 · · Score: 2, Funny

    A New Kind Of Science...er...Orbit. I wonder if Wolfram will try to take credit for this, too. Maybe there's an automata to describe it.

    --
    "Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish"
    Albert Einstein
  8. Re:Wouldn't it make more sense.... by RivenAleem · · Score: 2, Funny

    Peer to peer downloads of heavy metal music would push the satellite out of the Lagrange point. Another reason why its BAD to fileshare

    ~Your friendly RIAA rep

  9. Re:Bandwidth by Rennt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, net neutrality goes right out the window. Spare a thought for our poor Martin pioneers. No bittorrent for you!

  10. Re:Or their aesthetic sense. by RKThoadan · · Score: 2, Funny

    They're interior decorators so it looks great on the inside. If they can meet up with a race of landscape designers everything will be beautiful.

  11. Re:Or their aesthetic sense. by jefu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perhaps we need to arrange an introduction between the Martians and the Magratheans.

  12. This differs from Earth how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "So will you be pulling your troops out of our city?"
    "..."
    "Pull your troops out or we will be forced to liberate it ourselves."
    "..."
    "Are you looking for a fight?"
    "Yes."
    "You have it then! "
    "Don't worry, we will have the troop out in no time"
    "No certainly not, we will withdraw peaceably"
    "Wait, what!?!"

  13. Re:Wouldn't it make more sense.... by AGMW · · Score: 2, Funny
    Wouldn't the Lagrange points also be occulted by the sun

    Witch ever way you slice there'd be no spell when both Earth and the satellites were blocked by the Sun so it's a wizard idea.

    --
    Eclectic beats from Leeds, UK
    handmadehands.co.uk
  14. Re:Bandwidth by NEDHead · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wireless is always less bandwidth than wired/fiber solutions. A direct, multistrand cable is called for.