NASA and ESA To Demonstrate Earth-Moon Laser Communication 74
cylonlover writes with this news bite about a cool new ground to space laser communication system from NASA and ESA: "Space communications have relied on radio since the first Sputnik in 1957. It's a mature, reliable technology, but it's reaching its limits. The amount of data sent has increased exponentially for decades and NASA expects the trend to continue. The current communications systems are reaching their limits, so NASA and ESA are going beyond radio as a solution. As part of this effort, ESA has finished tests of part of a new communications system, in preparations for a demonstration in October in which it will receive a laser data download from a NASA lunar orbiter."
illuminating (Score:4, Funny)
I was too lasey to read the article, so it would have been nice if the video was more illuminating, but at least its coherent.
Re:SETI (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe this is part of the reason why SETI hasn't picked up anything yet...
And it explains the focus effect of quasars, they are just intergalactic long distance...
wonder what the plan lock in period is on a supermassive black hole?
Also, who do you call for an unlock at the end of the contract?
If it's the vendor, it may be a bad idea to bug someone that sets up black holes on demand...
In the near future... (Score:3, Funny)
...don't look at the moon with your remaining eye.