Do Astronauts Have the Internet in Space?


Do Astronauts Have the Internet in Space?

Back in 2010, NASA made a stride in launching the first-ever successful internet web connection to the earth. Astronauts on the space station were able to have a live connection and it was the first tweet from a NASA astronaut Timothy that crowned the moment. Before this, NASA astronauts’ communication between the NASA astronauts and the support team on earth could only take place once they were because of the ground antenna. Communication was limited for only 15 minutes every hour and a half. These days’ space astronauts can surf the internet just like other people on earth.

Astronauts do have limited internet access in space for the purposes of emailing, tweeting, and others. They can use the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites as well as satellite links to obtain an internet connection.

In this article, we are going to discuss all matters internet in space and how astronauts can make use of the internet while in the cosmos. So read on to find out more.

Can Astronauts Use the Internet?

Yes, they can. NASA communicates with these astronauts with communication satellites and ground-based antennas. Astronauts track and relay data through satellites. Space astronauts have laptops that they can use for limited web internet access for purposes of emailing, tweeting, and receiving the latest news.

Astronauts these days do not necessarily have to travel more than 250 miles. They can use the internet to reach their families through video conferencing with their laptops and tablets. The astronauts make use of the constellation of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) when getting online.

Another way is through the use of a satellite link to connect to a remote desktop computer in Houston. The Internet in space is safer and only the ground computer can be compromised in case of a malicious attack. NASA has worked consistently to improve the astronauts’ lives by establishing an internet-connected phone system that works via computer for private calls.

In 2008, NASA collaborated with Google’s Dr.Vinton G Cerf for more than 10 years and together successfully conducted the first test demonstration of DTN-Delay Tolerant Network ( a platform through which astronauts in space shuttles could use the internet to transmit images to and from Earth.

How Fast Is the Internet in Space?

The internet has been one of the most rapidly growing technologies. The number of internet users in 2000 was approximately 413 million. There has been a rise of this number to 3.4 billion users in sixteen years. Earlier on, the speed of the internet heavily relied on the type of hardware equipment you had. 

With the technological advancements coming in fast, connectivity and bandwidth are vital for the speed of your internet. In recent years, NASA upgraded their connection with ISS (International Space Station) by doubling the efficiency of transmitting data. The upgrade meant that ISS now had a 600 megabit per second internet connection.

Several upgrades were made to the ISS software where improved data processors were installed at various NASA centers. It aimed to accommodate the speed at which data could be transmitted. The upgraded digital ground architecture for the space network led to the upgrade in the bandwidth for terrestrial data. More bandwidth meant that space astronauts could relay and receive more data at a faster rate. Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent and received and it’s usually measured in seconds. For instance, 10 Mbps will mean that you can send and receive up to 10 megabits of data per second at the same time.

Despite the ISS operating at 400 km away, you will find out that data covers a much longer distance to reach earth. One of the NASA employees even says the speed of data exchange between NASA and ISS has a transmission latency (delay before a transfer of data command begins to follow an instruction that facilitates its transfer) of about half a second. That’s approximately 20 times that of an average internet connection.

Aside from the web, astronauts use the satellite link which enables both audio and video conferencing with the earth. For this reason, only a small fraction of the bandwidth can be used for internet browsing and sending tweets. The satellite link can go up to 300 Mbps but has a limited 25 Mbps speed.

It’s safe to say that internet speed has improved over recent years. However, even higher internet space speeds can be reached if some of the issues like satellite hitches, overheating of relay satellites and the effects of cosmic rays are addressed.

Is There Internet on the Moon?

The majority of you might not be aware of this, but the answer is yes. If somehow you travel to the moon you can still use the internet. The internet speed on the moon will even be incredibly faster than the one you’re using now on earth.

In the year1961 – 2000 MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has been receiving approximately $794 million from NASA funding. Since then MIT has worked alongside NASA on the space program. Their collaboration developed and guided the navigation system which allowed Apollo astronauts to reach the lunar surface to explore the frontier of X-rays. In the same manner, NASA and MIT researchers developed a laser-based long-distance internet.

History was made when data was transmitted from moon to earth with a download rate of 622 megabits per second. The download rate from earth to the moon was 19.44 megabits, an internet speed that is faster than other conventional methods of transmitting data like the radio. You should note that the data traveled about 384,633 km. These speeds allowed room for larger and better satellite images in real-time.

Much more investment is being put by NASA to improve the internet on the moon.  Nokia was selected as the official provider of a cellular network on the moon by 2022. Having won a contract of $ 14.1 million, it will have to establish 4G coverage even before 4.5 billion people do.

NASA has been taking advantage of the rapid growth of the internet to improve its vital and control functions like real-time navigation and data transmission. Besides, NASA is trying to build a sustainable internet presence on the moon by 20228. LunaNet (relay communication and navigation architecture) will aid in making it easier for lunar devices to communicate with those on Earth. The main purposes of LunaNet will be to:

  • Provide services for the transfer of data between nodes that adhere to confidentiality and integrity.
  • Provide navigation and timing services- surface navigation and location tracking. Help determine the velocity and plan trajectories or maneuvers.
  • Provide scientific data which is vital in predictions of space weather and further research on space radiation.

Can You Get the Internet on Mars?

This is one of those questions that is hard to answer. Yes and No. There are plans underway for Martinet, which means “Mars internet.” It will be routed via satellites via the use of long-distance internet protocols and cell towers in Mars orbit. By then, the number of internet web and internet servers on Mars will be in plenty and could be used to solve problems using Earth-based homepages. Currently, communication between Martian orbiters and mars is 2 Mbps while that of martial orbiters to Earth is also 2 Mbps.

The Internet has led to the invention of the Space laser which astronauts on mars will use for communication with Earth. However, this will require NASA to station its equipment on the base of Mars so that they can receive real-time data for their life support systems. The lasers will be in a near-infrared region of an electromagnetic spectrum making them difficult to be seen.

The development of scientific knowledge has seen the red planet mars branded as a more distant “cousin” to Earth. Circumstantial evidence has pointed to the plausibility of life on Mars. So imagine having an established Mars settlement with several apartments apart. These apartments will require computer communications. Having Mars internet will therefore go an extra mile of improving communications within the planet.

NASA researchers have given hints of the possible use of an interplanetary internet. This internet requires network nodes to communicate with each other. For instance, mars orbiters can collect data from the available mars communication links and afterward transmit the data to earth. Data will move directly from the Mars orbiters to the Earth ground stations where it will be routed through Earth’s internal internet.

However, with the distance between these planets, interplanetary communication will be likely be delayed. A new set of latency protocols will be needed to create a delay-tolerant system. Other factors that will derail the “Mars net” interplanetary connection include;

  • Low embeddable payload- where satellites carry a limited payload which will pose challenges for the communication hardware due to the power and size that will be involved.
  • Absence of fixed infrastructure- There are changes in communication nodes of one planet to another each time due to the planet’s constant motion. This will require a scheduled planet to planet communication.

In general for the interplanetary internet design to work on Mars, the above challenges should be addressed first to achieve reliable communication between Earth and Mars.

To sum it all up, it’s clear that space communication has steadily evolved and it’s still making great strides in the internet world. It wouldn’t be long before we hear another breakthrough between the international space station and its space network.

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