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NASA Beams Mona Lisa to Moon with Laser

Started by Still Waters , Jan 18 2013 12:12 PM
mona lisa nasa laser

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#1    Still Waters

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 12:12 PM

Call it the ultimate in high art: Using a well-timed laser, NASA scientists have beamed a picture of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, to a powerful spacecraft orbiting the moon, marking a first in laser communication.

http://www.space.com...aser-photo.html
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#2    Sir Wearer of Hats

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 12:17 PM

I don't care if this if the biggest waste of moeny and time, it's till awesome.

#3    and then

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 12:24 PM

Not a waste from their standpoint I guess.  They seem to be constantly chipping away at the issues holding us back from deeper space exploration.  But I agree - it IS awesome!  :)
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#4    wolfknight

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 12:30 PM

User a laser to sent information to space explorers at light speed is not a waste of money.

#5    Simbi Laveau

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 01:37 PM

Martians need art too .
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#6    freetoroam

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 02:01 PM

It is very fascinating. All the money we spend on fancy high tech computers and mobiles will be replaced in years to come with the new laser types.  With this in mind, i think computer and mobile phone companies should severely reduce their prices now, seeing that we will have to replace it all when these companies tell us that they are worthless because the laser technology has now taken over.
In an ideal World a law would be passed were NO guns were allowed and all those out there destroyed, trouble is the law makers are not going to take a risk of trying to pass that without making sure they are armed first.

#7    Darkwind

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 02:18 PM

Nope not a waste of money at all. It will have many useful applications.
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#8    freetoroam

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 02:23 PM

I do not think it is a waste of money either, because it will no doubt lead to better technology. What will be a waste of money if the prices do not go down, is the technology we are buying today.
In an ideal World a law would be passed were NO guns were allowed and all those out there destroyed, trouble is the law makers are not going to take a risk of trying to pass that without making sure they are armed first.

#9    Waspie_Dwarf

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Posted 18 January 2013 - 11:01 PM

View Postwolfknight, on 18 January 2013 - 12:30 PM, said:

User a laser to sent information to space explorers at light speed is not a waste of money.
That it is at light speed is not the point, radio waves also travel at light speed, the point is that lasers are able to carry more information than radio waves.
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#10    Tesla II

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 01:03 PM

View PostWaspie_Dwarf, on 18 January 2013 - 11:01 PM, said:

That it is at light speed is not the point, radio waves also travel at light speed, the point is that lasers are able to carry more information than radio waves.

Thank you! I was wondering why they did it, didn't made any sense until i red your post!
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#11    Merc14

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 03:47 PM

View PostWaspie_Dwarf, on 18 January 2013 - 11:01 PM, said:

That it is at light speed is not the point, radio waves also travel at light speed, the point is that lasers are able to carry more information than radio waves.

The data was scrambled and full of errors and very slow delivery so it doesn't seem at all practical to do this through the atmosphere but I think it would be invaluable for data transfer between two space-borne platforms.  Massive amounts of data could be transferred error free without the interfering atmosphere to impede the beam.  I think that in the not to distant future light will be used throughout most electronics including microprocessors.

Edited by Merc14, 19 January 2013 - 03:49 PM.

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#12    Lava_Lady

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 06:14 PM

I thought NASA was going to project the Mona Lisa on to the moon... :D  I was feeling so excited about it, I wanted to watch NASA do that from the beach with a glass of wine...but, yeah...this is good too.  Would have been cool to see a slide show projected on to the moon but it's fine.  Yup, this is cool too.

Edited by Lava_Lady, 19 January 2013 - 06:16 PM.

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#13    Andromedan Starseed 333

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 06:18 PM

that's pretty cool not sure what any good it will bring though.considering its "NASA" anyway what happens to the painting was that the real picture or just a copy?cause if its the real thing wow that's a waste!!!

#14    freetoroam

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 06:38 PM

View PostKing Cobra 1408, on 19 January 2013 - 06:18 PM, said:

that's pretty cool not sure what any good it will bring though.considering its "NASA" anyway what happens to the painting was that the real picture or just a copy?cause if its the real thing wow that's a waste!!!

The real Mona Lisa is on permanent display at the Musee du Louvre, I do not believe even NASA can get it off the French that easily.
In an ideal World a law would be passed were NO guns were allowed and all those out there destroyed, trouble is the law makers are not going to take a risk of trying to pass that without making sure they are armed first.

#15    King Fluffs

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Posted 19 January 2013 - 07:29 PM

They should beam a troll face up their next.
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