ESA Opens Deep Space Antenna in Australia 21
Gavinsblog writes "New Scientist is reporting that the European Space Agency has opened the first of its new deep space antennae. It is 35 metres across and can operate at up to 32 Ghz - able to provide a link to spacecraft up to 900 million kilometres away."
Pioneer 10... (Score:2)
Re:Pioneer 10... (Score:5, Informative)
well, (Score:2, Funny)
No worries there. (Score:2)
Would this this cause cancer, or perhaps just barbecue any little birdies that decide to land on it near the focal point?
ET (Score:2, Funny)
Re:ET (Score:1)
Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
ESA already has a number of ground stations around the world capable of contacting spacecraft that are relatively close to Earth. But the new antenna will provide a link to spacecraft up to 900 million kilometres away, well past the orbit of Jupiter. This capability will be crucial for keeping in touch with a number of planned European missions into deep space.
So my question was, if we were to put a satellite that would orbit Mars, we would now have a way to communicate with it. Also, if said satellite is able to gather surface, atmosphere, weather data, etc. it would aid us in exploration and possible colonization of Mars. Also, it could provide as a repeater to probes further out than this antenna on earth could reach. Maybe I'm just reading too much into this...
Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
The first of the ESA missions, Mars Express, will launch in June 2003 carrying an orbital craft and the British lander Beagle 2.
There are several problems with turning a Mars probe into a "repeater." Firstly, it's weight would be increased significantly by the extra antennae ('cause one would need to be pointed at Earth, each of the others pointed at the target missions), the extra power source (solar panels?), and computing hardware. The other problem is more significant. Mars and Earth have different orbital periods. Once every 2.1 years or so the Sun will lie between the two planets. Also, probes further out will not have the same period as Mars. There will be points in time during missions when the probe and the Earth are on one side of the solar system and Mars on the other, so the probe and Earth will be closer to each other than the probe is to Mars. An entire fleet of repeaters would be necessary to provide continuous coverage.Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
1. You can colonize Mars. I'm staying here. Mars has such a weak magnetic field that its surface is bombarded by high-energy ions (cosmic rays, solar wind). As long as you lived 10 meters underground you'd be fine, until you realized you were in a prison of your own making.
2. Now both NASA AND ESA have reliable connections to Mars. Ground-based antennae are adequate for the vast majority of the time. It's not like you're going to use a data connection to Mars like you use the Internet. Can you imagine playing Quake 15 with your Martian buddies and getting 10 minute lag?
3. Ok, so maybe eventually there will be a fleet of communication satellites around Mars just like there is around Earth. Then GPS, some secret military satellites, and it would be just like home...
Re:Mars on the 'net (Score:1)
Very powerful tool! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Very powerful tool! (Score:1)
Pretty useless (Score:1)
Only 32GHz? (Score:1)