Submitted by camidon on Tue, 05/02/2006 - 1:51pm

How does the communication between the ship(s), earth, and other ships work? Is there communication? This relates to the discussion on [Faster Than Light Travel (FTL)?]

  • I remember some interview with an old SF writer about the time of the first Apollo landing. He was commenting that all the SF stories of a first lunar landing assumed that the people on earth would not know if it was a success until the ship returned. There he was watching a TV picture of the first step. So I assume that the ship will be in communication with earth for the entire trip. We have already decide that there would be no FTL communication. -- Main.DaveK - 25 Jun 2004
  • information should be limited to speed of light radio or laser transmissions, reception of old television/radio transmissions, et. In one scenereo I envision the transmission of encrypted personalities broadcast across lightyears and taking centuries to complete, but ultimately resulting in new additions to the ship (ships) in the form of encoded/encryted data inhabiting the ship's computer. - EmptyKube - 24 Jul 2004 19:26:39
  • I think you're saying that there is constant communication between the ship and earth. I agree. I don't see any reason why they could not stay in touch. Unless, the mission is a secret one. -- DaveK - 25 Jul 2004 02:15:08
  • I also am not convinced of the need for non fTL communications. I do undersatdn the FTL drive, but the rationale for FTL communications elludes me and I think we should revisit that requirement. As I have said elsewhere, I am biased abnd have a story idea in mind, but I will stick with the consensus of the group. I just don't undersatnd the rational for that restriction. -- EmptyKube - 31 Jul 2004 15:39:45
  • The rational for non-FTL communications was that it was non-scientific given the current state of physics. Your pointing out the quantum entanglement method removes that restriction. (See the Destination link on the GenerationE home page for more discussion.) So what is the data rate of the QE link? Is it fast enough to allow multiple channels of video conferencing and TV or is it slow like 1900 telegraphs? -- DaveK - 01 Aug 2004 18:23:15
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