We already have TDRS (tracking data relay system). It is a system that can acquire data from satellites in low-Earth orbit with near-global coverage. A set of specialized satellites in geosynchronous orbit are used to track, command, and acquire data.
Some spacecraft have experienced problems with static electrical charges building up on the spacecraft. These can cause damage or catastrophic failure. See this.
They do complain, and they often file claims for damages. That's why supersonic flight is usually limited to areas set aside for tests, training and exercises.
If you look at FAA regulations over the past few decades, they have been very aggressive in their efforts to reduce noise from jet aircraft. That includes foreign and domestic carriers, and all aircraft, no matter where they were manufactured. Many older aircraft were forced out of service in the USA because their owners couldn't justify the cost of the "hush kits" they would have to install on their aircraft to meet USA noise standards.
There are a number of reasons why Concorde was allowed to operate out of Dulles. It had very long runways. It was in the middle of nowhere. The airport was a "white elephant" that was severely underused, and local and state politicians were desperate for anything that would bring more traffic and business to the airport.
The problem is that their system was designed to have asymmetric bandwidth. The uplink and downlink use different paths and technology. This can't be changed by decree.
I'd prefer it if they could put me in one of those suspended animation "coffins" like they had in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Put me to sleep at the originating airport, load me on whatever air barge is handy, and wake me up after I am unloaded at the destination airport. That way, I wouldn't have to suffer through another endless flight in steerage class.
It wasn't the "air lobbies" that doomed Concorde, it was environmentalists and other citizens who didn't want supersonic flight over populated areas, or Concorde's excessive noise and air pollution. They also helped to kill the Boeing SST.
I think phased array antenna systems are really cool but I can see several possible problems, complexity and power consumption. A matrix of active elements, like used in some radar systems, is going to use a lot of power. If you use passive elements, then you need a complex phase shifter and combiner network. Would it be reliable? Omni antennas are extremely reliable. Conventional high-gain antennas have had problems like not deploying properly from the stowed launch position.
Moving parts in spacecraft seem to fail at a high rate.
When I wanted to go to college, "free money" and subsidized student loans were not available. If you were lucky, very smart, or athletic, you might get a scholarship. Otherwise, you were on your own.
"The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him, to ride their horses and take away their possessions, to see the faces of those dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms"
They weren't wildly incompetent, they were human beings who made a simple mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Properly designed systems take that into account and try to prevent them or limit the damage that they can cause.
Giving the average person a Windows PC is like giving a teenager a Porsche and all the beer that they can drink.
My Apple II was more of an appliance than any modern computer. The only non-volatile storage was the floppy disk. It didn't have config.sys, autoexec.bat, a registry, CMOS RAM for BIOS setup parameters, DLLs, service packs, anti-virus software, and other modern dreck common to PCs. Installation was take it out of the box, plug in the floppy controller board, plug in the monitor, plug in the AC cord, put a system floppy in the disk drive, turn it on and type "PR#6".
People are convicted of libel and slander for insulting organizations, ethnic minorites, etc. Why should this apply to one group and not another?
Insulting someone is not slander, and people are not "convicted" of anything in civil court. Insulting an organization or minority group is not a crime, or a civil matter.
If I say "Bob is an asshole and a drooling idiot.", that's protected speech. If I say "Bob is a child molester and beats his wife.", then Bob may have grounds to sue for slander, assuming that the statements are false.
The problem is once you get into space, you have to deal with all of that localized VHF/UHF and microwave activity. This affects spacecraft communication links and active/passive remote sensing.
FBI: Do the stuff the old system does, only cheaper, faster and better! With GUIs and user-friendly bits! And it has to built on Microsoft technology. We only drink Microsoft kool-aid in this office.
ScienceApps: What does the current system do?
FBI: You know, FBI stuff. By the way, we need a detailed budget and schedule by next week.
Not only can more programs fit on a single channel, the modulation techniques used for digital television allow the FCC to pack the same number of television stations into a smaller television band, freeing up spectrum for other uses. ATSC, the technical standard for DTV/HDTV, is much more resistant than analog television to interference from other television stations.
Spread spectrum (CDMA) is not a silver bullet for spectrum allocation.
While it is more efficient than some other approaches, and has some definite advantages, it does not change the laws of physics. You still need a regulatory framework to prevent a tragedy of the commons.
Many people and groups can't afford to buy a chunk of spectrum, especially if they have to compete against commercial interests.
Amateur Radio
Family Radio Service
Non-Commercial Radio Broadcasting
Non-Commercial Television Broadcasting
Volunteer Fire Departments
Local Governments
Private Pilots
Sailors
Radio Astronomers
Remote Sensing and Scientific Research
Small Businesses
There are international treaties and agreements that allocate the RF spectrum to a wide variety of uses. If every country "did their own thing", we would have a real mess.
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We already have TDRS (tracking data relay system). It is a system that can acquire data from satellites in low-Earth orbit with near-global coverage. A set of specialized satellites in geosynchronous orbit are used to track, command, and acquire data.
Some spacecraft have experienced problems with static electrical charges building up on the spacecraft. These can cause damage or catastrophic failure. See this.
The Sun puts out 1368 W/m^2 at Earth's orbit, so I don't think your hypothetical laser would even be noticed.
They do complain, and they often file claims for damages. That's why supersonic flight is usually limited to areas set aside for tests, training and exercises.
There are a number of reasons why Concorde was allowed to operate out of Dulles. It had very long runways. It was in the middle of nowhere. The airport was a "white elephant" that was severely underused, and local and state politicians were desperate for anything that would bring more traffic and business to the airport.
The problem is that their system was designed to have asymmetric bandwidth. The uplink and downlink use different paths and technology. This can't be changed by decree.
I'd prefer it if they could put me in one of those suspended animation "coffins" like they had in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Put me to sleep at the originating airport, load me on whatever air barge is handy, and wake me up after I am unloaded at the destination airport. That way, I wouldn't have to suffer through another endless flight in steerage class.
It wasn't the "air lobbies" that doomed Concorde, it was environmentalists and other citizens who didn't want supersonic flight over populated areas, or Concorde's excessive noise and air pollution. They also helped to kill the Boeing SST.
I think phased array antenna systems are really cool but I can see several possible problems, complexity and power consumption. A matrix of active elements, like used in some radar systems, is going to use a lot of power. If you use passive elements, then you need a complex phase shifter and combiner network. Would it be reliable? Omni antennas are extremely reliable. Conventional high-gain antennas have had problems like not deploying properly from the stowed launch position. Moving parts in spacecraft seem to fail at a high rate.
When I wanted to go to college, "free money" and subsidized student loans were not available. If you were lucky, very smart, or athletic, you might get a scholarship. Otherwise, you were on your own.
I would have liked to attend college. Unfortunately, food and shelter were more immediate needs.
"The greatest joy a man can know is to conquer his enemies and drive them before him, to ride their horses and take away their possessions, to see the faces of those dear to them bedewed with tears, and to clasp their wives and daughters in his arms"
If there are two ways to wire an electrical circuit, it will be wired in the way that causes the maximum amount of equipment damage.
Giving the average person a Windows PC is like giving a teenager a Porsche and all the beer that they can drink.
My Apple II was more of an appliance than any modern computer. The only non-volatile storage was the floppy disk. It didn't have config.sys, autoexec.bat, a registry, CMOS RAM for BIOS setup parameters, DLLs, service packs, anti-virus software, and other modern dreck common to PCs. Installation was take it out of the box, plug in the floppy controller board, plug in the monitor, plug in the AC cord, put a system floppy in the disk drive, turn it on and type "PR#6".
RTGs are not nuclear reactors. The heat generated by an RTG comes from the decay heat of the nuclear material, not neutron-induced fission.
See "Heckler's Veto" and Disorderly Conduct by Whom?, an essay on the subject by Nat Hentoff.
Insulting someone is not slander, and people are not "convicted" of anything in civil court. Insulting an organization or minority group is not a crime, or a civil matter.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libel.
If I say "Bob is an asshole and a drooling idiot.", that's protected speech. If I say "Bob is a child molester and beats his wife.", then Bob may have grounds to sue for slander, assuming that the statements are false.
The problem is once you get into space, you have to deal with all of that localized VHF/UHF and microwave activity. This affects spacecraft communication links and active/passive remote sensing.
ScienceApps: What does the current system do?
FBI: You know, FBI stuff. By the way, we need a detailed budget and schedule by next week.
Not only can more programs fit on a single channel, the modulation techniques used for digital television allow the FCC to pack the same number of television stations into a smaller television band, freeing up spectrum for other uses. ATSC, the technical standard for DTV/HDTV, is much more resistant than analog television to interference from other television stations.
While it is more efficient than some other approaches, and has some definite advantages, it does not change the laws of physics. You still need a regulatory framework to prevent a tragedy of the commons.
Amateur Radio
Family Radio Service
Non-Commercial Radio Broadcasting
Non-Commercial Television Broadcasting
Volunteer Fire Departments
Local Governments
Private Pilots
Sailors
Radio Astronomers
Remote Sensing and Scientific Research
Small Businesses
There are international treaties and agreements that allocate the RF spectrum to a wide variety of uses. If every country "did their own thing", we would have a real mess.
You forgot $2000 for mag wheels.