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From: anand@amax.npac.syr.edu (Anand Rangachari)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Space Shuttle communications on shortwave
Message-ID: <615@cmx.npac.syr.edu>
Date: 11 Sep 88 14:21:02 GMT
References: <1255@ncspm.ncsu.edu> <6376@dasys1.UUCP>
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Reply-To: anand@nic.nyser.net (Anand Rangachari)
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In article <6376@dasys1.UUCP> tneff@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Neff) writes:
>I wonder if you noticed that item in the STS-26 Release about the
>infrared intercom system they're going to try out.  It would replace
>the RF cabin loop they currently use.  The whole point: providing
>a "secure" communications environment inside the orbiter (RF leaks
>but IR won't).  Oh joy!  You can bet from now on only two kinds of
>Star Wars stuff will take place on Shuttle missions: the successes
>DOD chooses to trumpet, and "no news."

  I too read the section about using IR to communicate. My wonder is that
they are making such a fuss about it. I have a copy of the DAK catalog
which lists a gadget that transmits TV sound modulated on IR that allows
you to watch TV in bed and not bother with long cords. This gadget costs
about $100. Maybe NASA should spend more time looking up catalogs for
Edmund Scientific and DAK.

   I doubt however that the new system was developed to secure the shuttle.
They probably did not want too many stray RF sources around those comm
sats.

                                                        R. Anand