A High-Bandwidth Interplanetary Connection

fragsworth · on July 16, 2011

> "If your slow Internet connection has you frustrated, just be glad you don't have to communicate with a probe on Mars. Even with new technology, scientists will be able to transmit only about 270 megabits per second between the two planets, not a lot of information when you're talking about superhigh-resolution photos."

Wtf? 270 megabits per second is about 27 times as fast as my Internet connection. Am I missing something here? Are they joking?

tlrobinson · on July 16, 2011

superhigh-resolution photos

I don't know how big they're talking, but if they're GBs then 270Mbps could seem slow, especially if you only have a limited window of opportunity to download them.

noselasd · on July 17, 2011

And for those interested, here; http://public.ccsds.org/publications/default.aspx are the specs for the protocols, formats, etc. currently used to communicate with stuff in space.

trafficlight · on July 16, 2011

Latency is still a bitch. How will I play Starcraft with my friends on Mars?

ComputerGuru · on July 16, 2011

What's interesting is that the latency for such a connection to the moon is stil less than the latency I get from my WiMax connection in the middle east many days..

xtacy · on July 16, 2011

Turn based strategy games might win :-)

sliverstorm · on July 16, 2011

Mail chess ftw.

Or maybe mail Starcraft...?

sp332 · on July 17, 2011

With real spaceships! :)

Groxx · on July 16, 2011

Start thinking with portals, for starters.

Though that didn't/won't go too well in the past/future. We will/have learned since/until?/by?/after then!

(damn it, where's Dr. Dan Streetmentioner's Time Traveler's Handbook of 1001 Tense Formations when you need it?)

Groxx · on July 17, 2011

No Doom love in this crowd? Sadness.