Space Communication

Outer space is a vast and lonely place. In order to keep astronauts and other space travelers connected to home, a variety of communication devices have been developed.

The most common form of communication in space is radio-based. Devices like the radio-phone and visio-scope use radio waves to send and receive signals. These signals are relatively clear and strong, but can be degraded by interference from other devices or by distance from the source.

To help ensure clear communication, a system of space stations, satellites, and communication rockets has been developed. This system forms a sort of communication lane, allowing for clear transmission between planets and other spacecraft. When one of these transmitters malfunctions, a communication rocket is sent to the location to fill in the gap and conduct repairs.

The farther away from the communication lane a spacecraft is, the less clear and strong the communication will be. If there is too much traffic in the lanes, the quality of the communications will degrade. This is known as 'pooling' or 'pooling a channel.'