Space: There is no mobile network in space, then how does video calling happen on Earth?

Recently, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force created a new history by reaching the International Space Station (ISS). After becoming a part of this mission, he had a live conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space through a video call. This special occasion once again raised the question in the minds of people about how astronauts make a video call to someone on Earth from such a distance, without any mobile network or internet.

How does communication happen in a vacuum?

There is no air in space. Due to the presence of air, there is a vacuum there, and due to this, no mobile network can work there. There is no common facility like internet, cable, or Wi-Fi. Despite this, scientists are constantly in touch with the Earth. This miracle has been possible due to science and high technology.

NASA's SCaN system is the backbone of this technology

NASA's 'Space Communication and Navigation System', i.e., SCaN, is the basis of this entire process. This system works with the help of transmission, relay, and reception. The message is first converted into code and transmitted, then reaches the receiver through the network, and finally gets decoded and converted into audio or video form.

The antenna system also makes a contribution.

To maintain contact between the space station and the Earth, NASA has installed huge antennas on all seven continents around the world. Their length is about 230 feet. Due to such a large size and high-frequency, these devices are capable of sending and receiving signals up to a distance of 200 crore miles.

Plan from radio waves to laser

At present, NASA communicates with space through radio waves. But keeping the future in mind, the agency is now working on laser-based infrared technology, which will make data transmission even faster and more accurate.

Relay satellites play an important role

NASA has many such relay satellites that work as a support system between the space station and the ground station. These satellites intercept the message and forward it, which maintains direct contact.

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