Facebook's Plans For Space Lasers Revealed (ieee.org) 38
Two new observatories are being built on Mount Wilson in California -- home to the 100-inch Hooker telescope, one of the largest aperture telescopes in the world, and CHARA array, the world's largest optical interferometer. As IEEE Spectrum reports, "they could house Facebook's first laser communications systems designed to connect to satellites in orbit." From the report: Construction permits issued by the County of Los Angeles show that a small company called PointView Tech is building two detached observatories on the mountain peak. PointView is the company that IEEE Spectrum revealed last year to be a previously unknown subsidiary of Facebook working on an experimental satellite called Athena. In April, PointView sought permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to test whether E-band radio signals could "be used for the provision of fixed and mobile broadband access in unserved and underserved areas."
That application was still pending at the FCC before the current U.S. federal government shutdown took effect, but it and other public documents and presentations now strongly suggest that PointView is planning to utilize laser technology, possibly both in Athena and future spacecraft. [...] Planning documents show that construction work on PointView's Mount Wilson observatories began in July and passed inspection in the middle of December. If the observatories are part of a laser satellite installation, they might use an optical ground station conceptually similar to [German company Mynaric]. This transmits its own laser beam up into the atmosphere for a drone -- or potentially a satellite -- to lock on to. Facebook and the Mount Wilson Institute didn't comment, but the report does go on to cite scientific papers authored by Facebook researchers suggesting that the company is committing resources to orbital lasers. "In a series of papers published in 2017 and 2018, engineers Raichelle Aniceto and Slaven Moro subjected multiple components, including an optical modem, to radiation similar to that experienced on orbit," reports IEEE Spectrum.
That application was still pending at the FCC before the current U.S. federal government shutdown took effect, but it and other public documents and presentations now strongly suggest that PointView is planning to utilize laser technology, possibly both in Athena and future spacecraft. [...] Planning documents show that construction work on PointView's Mount Wilson observatories began in July and passed inspection in the middle of December. If the observatories are part of a laser satellite installation, they might use an optical ground station conceptually similar to [German company Mynaric]. This transmits its own laser beam up into the atmosphere for a drone -- or potentially a satellite -- to lock on to. Facebook and the Mount Wilson Institute didn't comment, but the report does go on to cite scientific papers authored by Facebook researchers suggesting that the company is committing resources to orbital lasers. "In a series of papers published in 2017 and 2018, engineers Raichelle Aniceto and Slaven Moro subjected multiple components, including an optical modem, to radiation similar to that experienced on orbit," reports IEEE Spectrum.
Re: (Score:1)
Have they lost their minds? (Score:5, Funny)
We can't even trust Facebook with our baby pictures, and they wanna give them fickin' SPACE LASERS??
Clouds (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
https://news.psu.edu/story/199... [psu.edu]
The Second Option (Score:4, Funny)
the report does go on to cite scientific papers authored by Facebook researchers suggesting that the company is committing resources to orbital lasers.
Sweet, users have been wanting a "dislike" button forever...
Well instead of that, Facebook has done them one better. After you read a post you can either Like.... or STRIKE them via orbital laser.
Orbital Mind Control Lasers (Score:4, Funny)
Little known fact. A raid by the U.S. Secret Service has revealed that this Facebook project was coordinated by Steve Jackson Games [wikipedia.org] with documents camouflaged as rules for a card game named Illuminati [sjgames.com]. Pass phrase "Orbital Mind Control Lasers".
... with SHARKS! (Score:1)
aliens (Score:2)
the aliens want to be on facebook too!
Re: (Score:2)
Just goes to prove that there's no intelligent life out in the universe.
Oh Boy (Score:2)
Grabbing popcorn while I wait for the feedback on "100-inch Hooker telescope".
a new meaning to the sentence. (Score:1)
Support Mt. Wilson (Score:2)