So what's up with the rotten audio from the NASA missions? It has bugged me for years. Ever notice how bad it is? Why?
Now the old moon mission maybe I can understand, but the ISS and shuttle stuff? They are in low earth orbit, for crying out loud. How hard would it be to get pristine audio back down to earth?
A geostationary orbit, where the communication satellites sit, is 35000 Km above the earth's surface, and they can beam 100s of SD and HD video and audio channels. The Space Station is only about 350Km up and they can't get better than 1934 radio quality.
I have a theory. The audio coming fro the astronauts is crystal clear but NASA has a processor box to mess it up and give it that sound. If it sounded too good, no one would believe it was really coming from space.
Now the old moon mission maybe I can understand, but the ISS and shuttle stuff? They are in low earth orbit, for crying out loud. How hard would it be to get pristine audio back down to earth?
A geostationary orbit, where the communication satellites sit, is 35000 Km above the earth's surface, and they can beam 100s of SD and HD video and audio channels. The Space Station is only about 350Km up and they can't get better than 1934 radio quality.
I have a theory. The audio coming fro the astronauts is crystal clear but NASA has a processor box to mess it up and give it that sound. If it sounded too good, no one would believe it was really coming from space.
Good point, LoL. They're probably still using 1960's germanium transistors because no one ever changed the zillion page electronics manual.
Reminds me of the story of the NASA space pen. I don't know if this is an apocryphal story or not, but NASA are supposed to have spent years and a small a fortune developing a pen that would write in the zero gravity of space and under any temperature conditions etc. The Russians used a pencil.
If you've got a budget you'd better spend it on crap if need be or they'll take it off you next year.
Reminds me of the story of the NASA space pen. I don't know if this is an apocryphal story or not, but NASA are supposed to have spent years and a small a fortune developing a pen that would write in the zero gravity of space and under any temperature conditions etc. The Russians used a pencil.
If you've got a budget you'd better spend it on crap if need be or they'll take it off you next year.
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Bas, so was the russian shuttle, Buran. But the computers they designed for it are still amazing. Four identical computers working sincronously processing the same data, how cool is that.
My point here is that level of technology is not the sole determinant. Are not we all use 30's technology in our tube amps?
Here is the facinating reading Êîñìè÷åñêèé êîðàáëü Áóðàí how it all was done.
It must be. That same box adds that squelchy, ping sound every so often. Can you say "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
We are programmed for it, so they deliver.
Also remember the technology used up there must be compatible with all the other nations involved. Some of which are more than a few years behind technologically. Also, it takes many years to develop and prove anything nasa uses. The radios used in the ISS were probably designed in the late 80's/early 90's. I actually have a couple insiders into this stuff. I'll ask them.
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