Is It Feasible to Use a Cell Phone While in Earth's Orbit?
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Chapter 1: The Viability of Cell Phone Calls in Orbit
A subscriber recently posed an intriguing question: Can you use a cell phone to make calls while in Earth's orbit? The term "Earth's orbit" encompasses various distances, ranging from 120 km to 36,000 km above the planet. However, most human activity occurs around the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits at altitudes between 337 km and 430 km. Therefore, we'll focus on the feasibility of making a call from the ISS's altitude.
While astronauts aboard the ISS maintain constant communication with mission control on Earth through specialized radio transmitters, the question remains: can a standard cell phone be used to make calls in this environment? The concise answer is no; conventional cell networks are not designed to support calls from orbit. These systems are tailored for devices located on the surface of the Earth. However, with some adjustments to the settings, it may be possible for an astronaut to utilize a cell phone from space. To grasp how this could work, it's essential to delve into the fundamentals of cellular communication.
Section 1.1: Understanding Cellular Communication
Cell phones and base stations operate within the frequency range of 890 to 960 MHz. This frequency range penetrates the ionosphere effectively, allowing signals to reach devices in orbit, unlike longer waves that are reflected back to Earth. Base stations transmit data in packets and wait for a response; if a response isn't received in a specific time frame, the station tries connecting to another phone. In flat areas, this waiting period can limit the range of base stations, but with appropriate adjustments, it can be modified, allowing signals to reach orbiting phones.
Large base stations on the ground possess sufficient power to maintain a stable signal over distances of 120 km or more under clear conditions. Their operational range is intentionally restricted for better efficiency, as sending signals further would be redundant due to the Earth's curvature. While exact specifications of the most powerful stations are elusive, some can theoretically provide communication at altitudes of 150 km, assuming power limiters are bypassed and antennas are aligned correctly.
Section 1.2: Challenges of Calling from Orbit
The primary obstacles to making calls from orbit stem from the power output of the cell phone and the rapid speed at which the ISS travels. To send a signal back to Earth from the ISS, the phone would need to operate at maximum power, which could lead to overheating after a brief usage. This could suffice for short conversations, but an even greater challenge arises from the high velocity of the spacecraft. As a result, the phone would only remain within a base station's range for a matter of seconds, and this window decreases with altitude. Typically, base stations have limitations on communicating with fast-moving objects, necessitating adjustments to facilitate calls.
Consequently, while it could be feasible to initiate a call from an altitude of 150 km with the right setup, interruptions in the conversation would be frequent due to the phone rapidly switching between base stations. Making a call from the ISS would be particularly problematic, as its orbit is on the edge of what both the base stations and cell phones can handle, resulting in constant interruptions and rendering conversations nearly impossible.
Chapter 2: Exploring Further
The first video, "Can Astronauts Use Cellphones In Space? What, Really?!" delves into the feasibility of making calls from orbit and the technical challenges involved.
The second video, "I Was SCARED To Say This To NASA... (But I said it anyway)" shares insights from an astronaut's experience and the realities of space communication.
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