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Twenty Thousand Hertz

Space Audity: The challenges of space communication

Nov 18, 2020
27:09

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Real-time communication in space poses challenges due to signal delays, requiring alternative methods such as texting for missions to distant destinations like Mars.
  • Converting sound waves into radio waves enables communication over vast cosmic distances, utilizing designated radio bands and tracking satellites.

Deep dives

Communicating in Space

Communication in space presents unique challenges due to the vast distances and lack of a medium to transmit sound waves. Instead, radio waves are utilized for long-distance transmission. Spacecraft use radio signals that are beamed to satellites in geosynchronous orbit around the Earth, which then relay the signals to ground control. Real-time communication is crucial for astronauts, but the delay in signal transmission can cause inconvenience during spacewalks. As missions venture further into space, like potential trips to Mars, the time delay for communication becomes a significant challenge, requiring alternative communication methods such as texting. Concepts like wormholes and quantum entanglement, often depicted in science fiction, are not feasible for real-time communication due to current scientific knowledge. The vastness of space and the presence of natural radio noise, like quasars and other celestial bodies, make interstellar communication challenging. However, despite these obstacles, the inherent human curiosity and fascination with space will continue to drive advancements in communication technology, allowing for exploration of the unknown.

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