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Asteroid Impact Mission Sets Sights On New Laser Communications Record (esa.int)

Posted by timothy on from the cheaper-than-that-much-wire dept.

Zothecula writes: Laser-based communications has the ability to beam enormous amounts of data at high speed, but the use of this technology in space is still in its infancy. To help push things along, ESA's proposed Asteroid Impact Mission (AIM) will carry out a record-setting demonstration of space laser communications across a distance of 75 million kilometers (46 million mi) while orbiting a binary asteroid.

10 comments

  1. SETI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This technology is in its infancy, but imagine it in widespread use, and later in exclusive use, and then you'll understand why SETI doesn't detect anything.

    1. Re:SETI by Unordained · · Score: 1

      Over interplanetary distances, isn't there an issue with adjusting the orientation of the laser to track the movements of the receiver? Measurement error being what it is, N-body problems complicating things, and with a lag determined by C, would it become necessary to setup a relay network, where each component is responsible for readjusting itself in a timely fashion? Each node would need a power source, emit waste heat, occasionally thrust to reposition itself... Beyond that, laser beams in a vacuum still diverge over long distances, bleeding some EM away from the intended target. Would such a relay network be detectable?

  2. What was being sent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HELLO ANYBODY RECEIVING

    THIS IS EARTH POPULATION

    WE DO NOT MEAN HARM

    WE ARE ALL COWS

    MOOOO! MOOOO! MOOO!

    moooooo moooooooo moooooooo mooooooooo mooooooooo moooooooooo moooooooooo mooooooooooooooo mooooooooooooo moooooooooooooo moooooooooooooooooooo mooooooooooooooooo moooooooooooooooo mooooooooooooooo moooooooooooooo mooooooooooooooo

    P.S.: HOW MUCH GRASS DOES YOUR PLANET HAVE?

    1. Re:What was being sent by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      No wonder we haven't heard back.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  3. Lasers? In space? by spatley · · Score: 4, Funny

    But the sharks will die in a vacuum won't they?

    1. Re:Lasers? In space? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      laughtrack.flac

    2. Re:Lasers? In space? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope, fishtanks.

    3. Re:Lasers? In space? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I laughed so hard I farted. Thanks.

    4. Re:Lasers? In space? by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      Oh, no. They'll put the sharks into their space mobility encounter suits.

      Earth will be kept safe by circling space-laser sharks. That is, until they decide to take over. Or just move into the oceans of Europa -- because now they'll be able to drill through the ice.

      I for one welcome our new space-faring, laser-equipped shark overlords.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  4. News for nerds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be cool if there were a website where a story like this got a lot of comments, where there were a lot of people interested in talking about science, technology, news for nerds etc. Maybe someone should create such a website.