Cell phones, with their limited range and battery life, are not exactly optimal devices for a long-term stint in space. But what about the prospect of using them during short excursions? Do cell phones work in a 100% oxygen environment? This is a question that many have asked. The answer, however, may surprise you. The International Space Station (ISS) is currently the only place where astronauts live for extended periods of time (up to six months at a time). It’s also the only location where astronauts must complete tasks before they can return to Earth. Because of this, astronauts wear spacesuits when working outside the ISS or traveling from one module to another. These suits do not allow for any type of communication device -- which is why cell phones are impractical when working outside the ISS. However, unlike most missions that take place on the ISS, most excursions last only six hours or less. During these brief trips outside the ISS, astronauts wear lighter suits with built-in communication devices so that they can stay in contact with mission control at all times. Cell phones do not enable this kind of contact because cell towers cannot be accessed while inside these spacesuits and out in space -- but there are other options available instead.
What are the different communication devices used by astronauts?
Most communication devices used on space missions fall into one of two categories: satellite systems or radio waves. One of the most common forms of communications used on space missions is the geostationary satellite. Geostationary satellites are positioned 22,236 miles above the Earth’s surface. They are located at the equator and travel at the same speed that the Earth rotates, which allows them to remain in the same spot. The advantage to using a geostationary satellite is that it allows for constant communication with a location on Earth. The disadvantage is that the signal from a geostationary satellite is very weak and requires a large antenna. This makes it difficult or impossible to establish contact with a spacecraft outside Earth’s orbit.
Why Are Cell Phones Ineffective for Communication During Space Missions?
There are several reasons why cell phones are ineffective for communication during space missions. First and foremost, cell towers are not located in space. For this reason, the signals sent out by cell towers cannot travel to astronauts. In addition, the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites used to communicate with astronauts are very far away. While the distance between the ISS and a LEO satellite is only a few hundred miles (as the crow flies), the signal must travel through the ionosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere before reaching the satellite. Because of this, the signal is greatly weakened. This fact makes it difficult to send a strong signal from a LEO satellite to the ISS. The signal must be transmitted at a very high power level because of the distance between the satellite and the ISS. This is not viable for a cell phone because the battery would quickly die.
Are there any alternatives to cell phones for space travel?
The most common cell phone alternatives used on space missions are the Satellite Phone and the Indoor Satellite System. The Satellite Phone (also known as the Inmarsat phone) is a device that allows for communication between space explorers and family, friends, or co-workers on Earth. The Satellite Phone is like a hybrid between a normal cell phone and a walkie-talkie. It works by sending a signal to an Inmarsat satellite that then redirects the signal to a ground station. From there, the signal is sent to a normal phone line. The Indoor Satellite System is a device that allows ISS astronauts to communicate with mission control astronauts or other ISS astronauts inside the ISS module without having to wear a spacesuit.
How will astronauts communicate during missions outside of the ISS?
Communication during space missions outside of the ISS is more complicated than communication inside the ISS. While inside the ISS, astronauts can communicate with one another and mission control using a variety of methods. In space, however, communication with mission control is limited to radio waves or satellites. Because radio waves do not bend, they are not a viable form of communication while travelling in space. This leaves satellites as the most common method of communicating while outside of the ISS.
Conclusion
During space missions, astronauts rely on communication devices that do not require a connection to a cell tower. This limits the types of devices they can use, and while there are other options available, most of them are not as convenient as a cell phone. If scientists can discover a way to provide a cell signal in outer space, future astronauts will be able to communicate with each other and the people on Earth from an even wider range of locations.
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