[Randall55]

NASA confirmed Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment beamed a near-infrared laser encoded with data nearly 10 million miles away to the Hale Telescope in San Diego. Known as "first light" this achievement paves the way toward higher-data-rate communications, high-definition imagery, and streaming video that can be transmitted throughout the solar system. If there are different life forms out there, are we asking for trouble? What would Spock advise us?

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Randall55

NASA confirmed Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment beamed a near-infrared laser encoded with data nearly 10 million miles away to the Hale Telescope in San Diego. Known as "first light" this achievement paves the way toward higher-data-rate communications, high-definition imagery, and streaming video that can be transmitted throughout the solar system. If there are different life forms out there, are we asking for trouble? What would Spock advise us?

It is interesting to witness the advancements in artificial Intelligence and laser beams. The technology seems quite similar to episodes of Star Trek. I think Spock would say "with the unknown there is always a potential for danger." Let's hope there aren't Klingons and Romulans intercepting our data. Or, Chinese and Russians. Before I die, I would love to be BEAMED to any city in the world. That certainly beats a cramped airplane!

[MorTech]

It is all taxpayer-funded fun and games until someone loses an eye.

[Two Bills]

Earth Receives Message from 10 Million Miles Away

That's nothing.
I received a letter from my brother 10,000 miles away in Australia, that is practically a Nobel Prize event!

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Earth Receives Message from 10 Million Miles Away

That's nothing.
I received a letter from my brother 10,000 miles away in Australia, that is practically a Nobel Prize event!

That is quite a difference than 10 MILLION miles. But, I get your humor. Thanks for the laugh. I'm still waiting on a text or email from my daughter in Michigan. I wonder how long that is going to take!

[NoMo50]

If they haven't already, they will find a way to weaponize it.

[Byte1]

I doubt any "intelligent" life form would wish to open a conversation with anyone on Earth. After all, if humans cannot communicate with each other in peace, how can anything out there think it would be any different with them? Interesting subject but likely a big waste of money better used elsewhere.

[ureout]

very few know this but the communication was when costco will be coming to the villages

[Keefelane66]

May be the end of religion as we know it.

[Bill14564]

10 million miles? Sounds like a big number until you realize Venus is 67 million miles away, the sun is 95 million miles away, and mars is 142 million miles away. 10 million miles is really just a little past our property line.

The success here was being able to aim the laser accurately enough to hit the receiver on the earth while both are moving and the earth is turning.

[dtennent]

Originally Posted by Randall55

NASA confirmed Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment beamed a near-infrared laser encoded with data nearly 10 million miles away to the Hale Telescope in San Diego. Known as "first light" this achievement paves the way toward higher-data-rate communications, high-definition imagery, and streaming video that can be transmitted throughout the solar system. If there are different life forms out there, are we asking for trouble? What would Spock advise us?

I assume the higher data rate transmission is for space related communication. For those of us living on earth in the developed world, the existing optical fiber network provides a very high data rate transmission that is not dependent on atmospheric conditions.

On the other hand, maybe we can expose the entire solar system to 200 channels of TV that has nothing on there that anyone would want to watch.

[Taltarzac725]

ET! Phone home.

[Taltarzac725]

Wrong number.

[Battlebasset]

It would take 4.3 years moving at the speed of light to reach the nearest star. Space is really big. Bigger than anyone can imagine.

Add in the additional issues of the power needed, and all of the issues of time and relativity when traveling at the speed of light, it is a pretty good bet that we have never been visited, and we will never visit them or hear from them, assuming there is anything out there other than us.

And if you want to look at it from a Judeo-Christian religious perspective, there is no need for other intelligent life other than humans.

[bopat]

I'd think they'd get more bang for their buck with quantum entanglement and teleportation.
Laser transmissions are so 1990's.