As astronauts prepare to land on Mars in the coming decades, the need for effective communication becomes increasingly important. Whether it’s connecting with each other, operating equipment, or staying in touch with loved ones back on Earth, a reliable communications infrastructure is crucial for the success of human missions to Mars. Claire Parfitt, a systems engineer with the European Space Agency, emphasizes the significance of establishing a robust communications system for future Mars missions. While researchers are exploring various methods to enhance existing networks, NASA’s Psyche mission is testing the use of lasers for interplanetary communication, which has the potential to transmit significantly more data than traditional radio waves. Despite these advancements, the time lag in communications between Earth and Mars remains a challenge, with messages taking anywhere from four to 24 minutes to travel one way at the speed of light. This means that instant communication, such as a quick message to mission control or a WhatsApp call home, is currently not feasible.
2024-02-09 09:00:00
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