{"id":61523,"date":"2020-10-06T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-465148"},"modified":"2023-08-09T11:46:06","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T15:46:06","slug":"space-communications-7-things-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/space-communications-7-things-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Communications: 7 Things You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">5 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpace Communications: 7 Things You Need to Know\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"A blue antenna faces to the right with a bright blue sky behind it.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg 6000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/as2-october-2017-12.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><figcaption>The Near Space Network AS-2 antenna at the Alaska Satellite Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA\/Goddard<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Movies and television shows can make communicating with space look easy. Astronauts on far off planets video chat with loved ones on Earth with crystal clear quality and no delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do these imagined communications capabilities match reality? Not really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Communicating to and from space is a challenging endeavor. Fortunately, NASA has the experience and expertise to get space data to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/index.html\">Space Communications and Navigation<\/a> (SCaN) program enables this data exchange, whether it\u2019s with astronauts aboard the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/main\/index.html\">International Space Station<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/mars.nasa.gov\/mer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">rovers on Mars<\/a>, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\">Artemis missions<\/a> to the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at some of the challenges of space communications alongside the technologies and capabilities NASA uses to overcome them.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Two ground antennas located at the Alaska Satellite Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-01.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Two ground antennas located at the Alaska Satellite Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>1.     <\/b><b>The Basics<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At its simplest, space communications relies on two things: a transmitter and a receiver. A transmitter encodes a message onto electromagnetic waves through modulation, which changes properties of the wave to represent the data. These waves flow through space toward the receiver. The receiver collects the electromagnetic waves and demodulates them, decoding the sender\u2019s message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> Consider a Wi-Fi router and networked devices around the home. Each device receives signals from the router, which transmits data from the internet. At its heart, the complex task of communicating with space resembles wireless communications in the home \u2013 only on an enormous scale and at incredible distances.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A 230-feet-wide antenna located at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in Canberra, Australia. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-02.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A 230-feet-wide antenna located at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex in Canberra, Australia.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA <\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>2.     <\/b><b>Ground Networks<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Communicating from space involves more than pointing a spacecraft\u2019s antenna at the Earth. NASA has an extensive network of antennas around the globe \u2014 over all seven continents \u2014 to receive transmissions from spacecraft. Network engineers carefully plan communications between ground stations and missions, ensuring that antennas are ready to receive data as spacecraft pass overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> Ground station antennas range from the small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/goddard\/2018\/nasa-upgrades-space-station-emergency-communications-ground-stations\">very high frequency antennas<\/a> that provide backup communications to the space station to a massive, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/services\/networks\/deep_space_network\/complexes\/70-meter\">230-foot antenna<\/a> that can communicate with far-off missions like the <a href=\"https:\/\/voyager.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Voyager spacecraft<\/a>, over 11 billion miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An artist\u2019s rendering of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites alongside two of the flagship missions they support, the Internation\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-03.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">An artist\u2019s rendering of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites alongside two of the flagship missions they support, the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>3.     <\/b><b>Space Relays<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to direct-to-Earth communications, many NASA missions rely on relay satellites in order to get their data to the ground. For example, the space station communicates through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdrs\/home\/index.html\">Tracking and Data Relay Satellites<\/a> (TDRS), which transmit data to ground stations in New Mexico and Guam. The recently launched <a href=\"https:\/\/mars.nasa.gov\/mars2020\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars 2020 Perseverance rover<\/a> will send data through orbiters around Mars, which forward the data to Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> Relays offer unique advantages in terms of communications availability. For example, the placement of TDRS at three different regions above Earth offers global coverage and near-continuous communications between low-Earth orbit missions and the ground. Rather than waiting to pass over a ground station, TDRS users can relay data 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An artist\u2019s rendering of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration on the Space Test Program Satellite (STPSat-6).\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-04.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">An artist\u2019s rendering of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration on the Space Test Program Satellite (STPSat-6).<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>4.     <\/b><b>Bandwidth<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA encodes data on various bands of electromagnetic frequencies. These bandwidths \u2014\u00a0ranges of frequencies \u2014 have different capabilities. Higher bandwidths can carry more data per second, allowing spacecraft to downlink data more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> Currently, NASA relies primarily on radio waves for communications, but the agency is developing ways to communicate with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/lasercomms\">infrared lasers<\/a>. This type of transmission \u2014 dubbed optical communications \u2014 will offer missions higher data rates than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/lcrd\/overview.html\">Laser Communications Relay Demonstration<\/a> (LCRD) will showcase the benefits of optical communications. The mission will relay data between ground stations in California and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/goddard\/2020\/new-ground-station-brings-laser-communications-closer-to-reality\">Hawaii<\/a> over optical links, testing their capabilities. NASA will also furnish the space station with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/opticalcommunications\/illuma-t\/\">optical terminal<\/a> that can relay data to the ground via LCRD.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Orion spacecraft will place the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface with the Artemis missions. Artemis II will\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-05.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Orion spacecraft will help place the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface with the Artemis missions. Artemis II will have a high-data-rate optical communications terminal.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>5.     <\/b><b>Data Rates<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Higher bandwidths can mean higher data rates for missions. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/apollo\/missions\/index.html\">Apollo<\/a> radios sent grainy black and white video from the Moon. An upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/esc.gsfc.nasa.gov\/projects\/LEMNOS\" rel=\"noopener\">optical terminal<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/subject\/14152\/artemis-ii-was-exploration-mission-2\/\">Artemis II<\/a> mission will send 4K, ultra-high definition video from lunar orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> But bandwidth isn\u2019t the only constraint on data rates. Other factors that can affect data rates include the distance between the transmitter and receiver, the size of the antennas or optical terminals they use, and the power available on either end. NASA communications engineers must balance these variables in order to maximize data rates.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover on the surface of the Red Planet will have four to 24 minutes of latency depending on Mars\u2019 loc\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-06.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover on the surface of the Red Planet will have four to 24 minutes of latency depending on Mars\u2019 location relative to Earth.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA \/ JPL-Caltech<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>6.     <\/b><b>Latency<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Communications don\u2019t occur instantaneously. They\u2019re bound by a universal speed limit: the speed of light, about 186,000 miles per second. For spacecraft close to Earth, this time delay \u2014\u00a0or communications latency \u2014\u00a0is almost negligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br> However, farther from Earth, latency can become a challenge. At Mars\u2019 closest approach \u2014 about 35 million miles away \u2014 the delay is about four minutes. When the planets are at their greatest distance \u2014 about 250 million miles away \u2014 the delay is around 24 minutes. This means that astronauts would need to wait between four and 24 minutes for their messages to reach mission control, and another four to 24 minutes to receive a response.<br> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As NASA prepares to send <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/6_Technologies_NASA_is_Advancing_to_Send_Humans_to_Mars\/\">humans to the Red Planet<\/a>, communications engineers are developing ways for astronauts to stay connected with Earth while recognizing delays will be a part of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?w=1366\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Radiation from the sun is one potential source of interference for space communications transmissions. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/untitled-1-07.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Radiation from the Sun is one potential source of interference for space communications transmissions.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>7.     <\/b><b>Interference<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As communications transmissions travel over long distances or through the atmosphere, the quality of their data can deteriorate, garbling the message. Radiation from other missions, the Sun, or other celestial bodies can also interfere with the quality of transmissions.<br> To make sure that mission operations centers receive accurate data, NASA uses methods of error detection and correction. Methods of error correction include computer algorithms that interpret noisy transmissions as usable data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Hollywood dreams up stories that connect people across the galaxy with ease, NASA engineers endeavor to turn those dreams into reality. NASA is developing technologies and capabilities that address the real-world challenges of space communications, while empowering science and exploration missions with robust communications services.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/nasa-doubles-down-advances-six-innovative-tech-concepts-to-new-phase\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"92\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png 4053w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=300,92 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=768,236 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=1024,315 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=1536,473 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=2048,630 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=400,123 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=600,185 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=900,277 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=1200,369 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024-niac-ph-ii.png?resize=2000,615 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA Doubles Down, Advances Six Innovative Tech Concepts to New Phase<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/xmm-newton\/x-ray-satellite-xmm-newton-sees-space-clover-in-a-new-light\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png 2311w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=768,769 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=1022,1024 1022w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=1533,1536 1533w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=2044,2048 2044w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=898,900 898w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=1198,1200 1198w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/hi-res-cloverleaf-500dpi-crop.png?resize=1997,2000 1997w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">X-ray Satellite XMM-Newton Sees \u2018Space Clover’ in a New Light<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/two-small-nasa-satellites-will-measure-soil-moisture-volcanic-gases\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/snoopi-cubsat-image3.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Two Small NASA Satellites Will Measure Soil Moisture, Volcanic Gases<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">Two NASA pathfinding missions were recently deployed into low-Earth orbit, where they are demonstrating novel...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program enables this data exchange, whether it\u2019s with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, rovers on Mars, or the Artemis missions to the Moon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":239,"featured_media":62641,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2857,3207,3315,2788],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Space Communications: 7 Things You Need to 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