Random geekage.

[caffienekitty]

There are days when I love being on NASA's Press Release mailing list...

NASA SUCCESSFULLY TESTS FIRST DEEP SPACE INTERNET

From here:

NASA has successfully tested the first deep space communications network modeled on the Internet.

Working as part of a NASA-wide team, engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., used software called Disruption-Tolerant Networking, or DTN, to transmit dozens of space images to and from a NASA science spacecraft located about 20 million miles from Earth.

"This is the first step in creating a totally new space communications capability, an interplanetary Internet," said Adrian Hooke, team lead and manager of space-networking architecture, technology and standards at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
<...>
The Interplanetary Internet must be robust to withstand delays,
disruptions and disconnections in space. Glitches can happen when a
spacecraft moves behind a planet, or when solar storms and long
communication delays occur. The delay in sending or receiving data
from Mars takes between three-and-a-half to 20 minutes at the speed
of light.
<...>
In the next few years, the Interplanetary Internet could enable many
new types of space missions. Complex missions involving multiple
landed, mobile and orbiting spacecraft will be far easier to support
through the use of the Interplanetary Internet. It also could ensure
reliable communications for astronauts on the surface of the moon.

As a lifelong sci-fi geek and a user of the internet since the days Gopher and Usenet ruled the land, 2400 baud was fast and everyone cursed the words 'LOST CARRIER'? This is both cockle-warming and funny as hell, for more reasons than I can adequately explain in a quick post from work.

Comments

[anniehow.livejournal.com]

Is it sad that my first thought was "those poor astronauts who have to spend months on the international space station will be able to chat and download their favourite tv shows!"?

I am a sad specimen of fannishhuman life ;-P

[astrothsknot.livejournal.com]

*Dear LJ, sdjd klsdke jfkeposm . Damn space suit*

[caffienekitty]

*giggles* Totally! Also cooped up with your co-workers for months at a time, 24/7? They need to be able to blog to blow off steam. XD

[caffienekitty]

those poor astronauts who have to spend months on the international space station will be able to chat and download their favourite tv shows

Absolutely! And the people in the future moon base, and the ones colonizing Mars. That probably doubled their applicant list right there! Downloads would be a bear, and you'd be screwed if Phobos was in the wrong place, but at least it'd be possible! :-D

[quettalinde.livejournal.com]

Now, if we only had a space colony to go with the IPI…

[caffienekitty]

Well, they way I see it, having the communication capability is an important step in getting to a colony situation. Aside from the obvious keeping contact and so forth, they can update data and programming on future bases and further flung satellites and Rovers without the need to use the Space Shuttle like a giant jump drive.

It's a hopeful step I think. At this stage of the game, any step is a good step.

[(Anonymous)]

Ok I think I need to join their mailing list--that it just neat. Yes, I am a space geek as well as..other kinds..lol I read about the supposed oceans on Mars today too:P

Sharon

[caffienekitty]

There should be a link on that page to join it. It's meant for the media, and blogging is a kind of reporting, right? ;-) You get a lot of notices about service contract awards and staff changes, awards and things, but some amazing stuff will show up now and then.

I've been on it since... probably the late '90's I remember watching their system check reports rolling in as the clocks on all the old satellites and equipment in orbit started ticking over into Y2K, and reporting that they were all still stable. They figured it'd all be okay, and the checks were just a precaution, but that was cool.

Even though they've been detecting signs for a while now, I still can't get over the whole 'water on Mars' thing. It's fantastic!

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

\o/

This is both cockle-warming and funny as hell, for more reasons than I can adequately explain in a quick post from work.
Yes, yes, yes!
This is making me happier than it, imo, should, despite sharing your geekery. But... interplanetary communications! \o/

Thank you for sharing!

[caffienekitty]

interplanetary communications! \o/

Woo Hoo! \o/ Interplanetary communications with bandwidth that can send data from landings and colonies back to Earth, and send updates to software, entertainment, news, videos from home out. One of the big psychological barriers in space travel, I think, is the isolation, being cut off from 'Home'. This is a small step towards eliminating that as a barrier, and anything that eliminates any kind of barrier to interplanetary colonization is awesome in my books! \o/

ETA: Through some strange oversight, I apparently missed friending you back! This has now been rectified.

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

-send updates to software, entertainment, news, videos from home out.
Wanna bet how long it'll take for the first porn (in any format) to cross the distance?
Because apparently new technology/way of relaying info => porn within metaphorical five minutes. Oh, humanity.

This, methinks, goes a long way of 'conquering the space'. Communications with not just your shipmates? \o/
And helping science fiction become science fact.

ETA: Hope you'll find something entertaining in my LJ. :)

[caffienekitty]

Because apparently new technology/way of relaying info => porn within metaphorical five minutes. Oh, humanity.

Well of course! :-D

And helping science fiction become science fact.

A-freaking-men. *nods*

[sandrinnad.livejournal.com]

cool cool cool cool COOL!!!! :D

thanks for posting this!! *is off to NASA's site*

[caffienekitty]

*smishes you*

Isn't it nifty?