Slashdot Mirror
Facebook Appears To Be Quietly Building Laser Satellites For Global Communications (ieee.org)
The snow-dusted peak of Mount Wilson in California has been home to many famous observatories. Until 1949, its 100-inch (2.5-meter) Hooker telescope was the largest aperture telescope in the world, and in 2004, its CHARA array became the world's largest optical interferometer. Now, two new observatories are being built there that, while not focused on the stars, might prove equally historic. They could house Facebook's first laser communications systems designed to connect to satellites in orbit. IEEE Spectrum reports: Construction permits issued by the County of Los Angeles show that a small company called PointView Tech is building two detached observatories on the mountain peak. PointView is the company that IEEE Spectrum revealed last year to be a previously unknown subsidiary of Facebook working on an experimental satellite called Athena. In April, PointView sought permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to test whether E-band radio signals could "be used for the provision of fixed and mobile broadband access in unserved and underserved areas."
That application was still pending at the FCC before the current U.S. federal government shutdown took effect, but it and other public documents and presentations now strongly suggest that PointView is planning to utilize laser technology, possibly both in Athena and future spacecraft. Facebook has long been interested in free space optical, or laser, communication technology. Lasers are able to support much higher data rates than radio transmitters for a given input power, and their signals are largely immune to interference or hacking, although clouds can be problematic. Although Facebook developed millimeter-wave E-band links for its stratospheric Aquila drones, it was also experimenting with air-to-ground laser communications before it canceled its drone program last June. The laser tests, which used technology supplied by German company Mynaric, succeeded in establishing 10-gigabit-per-second links between a ground station and a light aircraft flying overhead.
That application was still pending at the FCC before the current U.S. federal government shutdown took effect, but it and other public documents and presentations now strongly suggest that PointView is planning to utilize laser technology, possibly both in Athena and future spacecraft. Facebook has long been interested in free space optical, or laser, communication technology. Lasers are able to support much higher data rates than radio transmitters for a given input power, and their signals are largely immune to interference or hacking, although clouds can be problematic. Although Facebook developed millimeter-wave E-band links for its stratospheric Aquila drones, it was also experimenting with air-to-ground laser communications before it canceled its drone program last June. The laser tests, which used technology supplied by German company Mynaric, succeeded in establishing 10-gigabit-per-second links between a ground station and a light aircraft flying overhead.
This does not bode well.
We can only hope that High Lord Emperor Zuckerberg spares us, in his infinite generosity.
Msmash's Facebook lasers VS Beau's Facebook lasers - fight to the death!
Posted yesterday
Guise, a little attention to what the other idiot is doing, please.
The original story this is a dupe of is still on the fucking front page.
Slashdot really is going downhill and seems to be in the hands of idiots.
I, for one, welcome our new emotionless robot overlords!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
Dr. Evil is at it again. I guess the sharks didn't work out.
If clouds block the lasers then how can you keep your data in the cloud?
Or at least, that's what Zuckerberg says they're for...
Most people I know have given up on Facebook. It got ugly with Brexit and Trump. You can only see so many pics of people drinking, cats and other people's kids before it gets boring. It's back to instant messaging and more meaningful communication for most people.
In a space Sharknado.
Somehow if human life were exterminated in the space laser sharkanado accident and eons late another species of arose and archaeologically revealed this epic Darwin Award extinction in pursuit of FOMO gossip then humanities role in the universe will have been fulfilled. Nothing could have been more futile.
More seriously, do we really think it's a good idea to let the mercenary Facebook "scientist" put future rubbish in space. They have proven they are incautious and will exploit any loophole to its full extent with no concern about what might be good for anyone else but facebook. THey will, if it suits them, completely fill every orbital channel and burn zuckerbergs all-seeing face on the moon
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
and their signals are largely immune to interference or hacking, although clouds can be problematic.
So they're largely immune to interference except to one form of interference that is prevalent throughout the atmosphere?
That's as stupid as saying you make a body armor vest that is mostly immune to impacts although guns can be problematic.
Why the library like environment ( building quietly?) to build.
It's like all the so called digital assistants that are more about helping them rather than me.
the biggest liars and data thieves in the world want to handle global communication? let me know when this goes online and i will smash my phone in to little bitty pieces
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
Orbital Mind Control Lasers — "We know what's on your mind - we put it there!"
(Yeah, I was an Illuminati! player. Still have my INWO cards, anyway.)
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Of course they are quiet. Lasers are based on light. However they wouldn't be quiet if they were sonic satellites, which they are not.
Better known as 318230.
Yeah, sure, laser satellites "for communications." Next time the Congress wants to call Zuckerberg to task, Facebook will "communicate" with the Capitol using its high power laser to burn it to the ground.
Branson and Musk are both pursuing this. Musk has the tech advantage with low cost to orbit, and is rumored to have an assembly line for satellites in the works (test satellites are already in orbit). What could Zuck possibly bring to the table here? No tech, no brand, no trust - why are investors even behind this?
I think this is a great idea. If Facebook controlling trunk networking isn't enough to encourage everyone to encrypt their transmissions, nothing is!
Sounds like either 007 or Mr. Powers will be paying him a visit soon. Possible villain dialogue:
Zuckerberg dialog: "Mr. Powers. In the vacuum of space, I believe you will find my space lasers... breathtaking. "
Zuckerberg dialog: "It seems you still don't understand your situation Mr. Bond. I knew you were coming. I know your every move. I know what everyone is doing. I know more than Santa Claus, and you have been very naughty Mr. Bond. Do you think that I don't know about you and Mrs. Claus? She helped me test my space lasers. The test was a success. "
https://science.slashdot.org/story/19/01/21/2354258/facebooks-plans-for-space-lasers-revealed
20 years on, 10 years past effective AI, /. still doesn't have a working dupe detector.
Add the word "LASER" to anything makes it seem more interesting.
shut up apk
shut up creimer.
Sounds like either 007 or Mr. Powers will be paying him a visit soon. Possible villain dialogue:
Zuckerberg dialog: "Mr. Powers. In the vacuum of space, I believe you will find my space lasers... breathtaking. [maniacal chuckle]"
Zuckerberg dialog: "It seems you still don't understand your situation Mr. Bond. I knew you were coming. I know your every move. I know what everyone is doing. I know more than Santa Claus, and you have been very naughty Mr. Bond. Do you think that I don't know about you and Mrs. Claus? She helped me test my space lasers. [assistant whispers to him] I must not keep my guest waiting. Goodbye Mr. Bond. [turns as if to walk away, then looks back] By the way, the test was a success. [smug grin]"
Why have you all forgotten about the most important topic regarding use of lasers in public?!!!???
In case you guys are not aware, two volunteers were blinded permanently by mis-use of lasers at Burning Man two years or so ago.
That is why lasers are banned from the playa except for under very strictly controlled conditions.
Lasers above 5 millawatts are not allowed to be used outdoors except with very strict permits from the FAA and other agencies; let alone many states.
And now we want to put a constellation of laser satellites up?
Are facebook's lasers all under 5 milliwatts?
Will the entire Mt. Wilson area be completely off limits to all aircraft?
And liability? That one will be a real hornets nest!
And don't forget aircraft, spacecraft, the space station; and in fact, anyone on the ground if the aiming software or hardware has problems?
No. Sorry. I see this as a no-go on laser safety alone!
Most Respectfully Yours Mark Allyn Bellingham, Washington
"Businessmen" trying to take over the world with high tech spying, secret underground bunkers, private space fleet launches, laser satellite networks... I never appreciated how those James Bond movies were predictions of the near future!
Any post with the word "quietly" in the title is not worth reading.