IS THERE WIFI IN SPACE? FOUR INTERESTING FACTS

Some daring explorers have faced difficult situations and trained their minds to deal with strange and extreme scenarios. However, no one is ever prepared for a WiFi outage. And if anyone knows what it's like to be far from a fiber internet cable, it's an astronaut. Is it possible for them to connect to WiFi in space, and what are the speeds?

1.       WiFi in space

In 2008, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) installed the first WiFiaccess points in space on the International Space Station. Later, more access points were added to the station, and the network expanded into space.

2. The first network was WiFi 4.

WiFi 4 was made up of two access points (APs) that each supported 240Mbps. As a result, the network could accommodate up to 52 wired and wireless devices. The IBM Thinkpad A32P was the first laptop in space to connect to this network.

In 2012, NASA upgraded the APs with four industrial-grade dual-band WiFi units. This network is now capable of connecting 180 wired and wireless devices.

3. What is the network used for

a. Spacesuits

As WiFi's power in space grows, it is being used for more in-depth research. Additionally, an astronaut's spacesuit can connect to the WiFi network, increasing communication efficiency between those on a spacewalk and those inside the station. Later, in 2019, NASA modified their spacesuits by adding a wireless data logger; as a result, these loggers collect new data that astronauts were previously unable to relay via traditional spacesuit radios.

Furthermore, video cameras in spacesuits now stream high-definition videos to internal storage on the suit. Crew members review footage captured in space or on Earth.

b. Streaming video and docking

Because of the availability of WiFi in space, flight controllers on Earth can stream video, facilitate communication between extraterrestrial vehicles, and more easily facilitate docking procedures on the space station.

c. Vehicle and international infrastructure connectivity

In May 2020, the Japanese HTV-9 cargo transfer vehicle demonstrated a high-definition, live video streaming application using WiFi in space for the first time.

4. Increasing WiFi coverage outside the space station

NASA installed the first external AP for WiFi access in space four years later, in 2016. In 2018, a third external AP was added, followed by two high-definition cameras linked via an Ethernet cable. This connection provided crew members with visual views as well as WiFi coverage in the docking corridor.

WiFi's Future in Space

WiFi will be used to connect new spacesuit devices such as high-definition space helmet cameras in the future. Cameras will also provide visual guidance for performing external vehicle inspections that a human cannot reach.