03:56Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov explained how the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) can still use the internet and stay connected - despite a distinct lack of fibre optics! - as seen on Friday, February 29.
Exclusive footage captured aboard the ISS shows Borisov with a specially designed tablet, as well as a monitor showing how the station is connected to a number of satellites.
"We rely on Ku-band satellite internet for our connection. In terms of speed, this internet service is quite comparable to what is commonly used on Earth, so there's nothing exceptionally high-speed about it. A distinctive aspect of our satellite internet is its resilience to weather interference, unlike its Earth-based counterpart. On Earth, weather conditions can intermittently disrupt satellite internet services, but up here, we experience stable connectivity as weather does not impact our satellite internet," he said.
He added that despite some periods with no communication at all, access to the internet was actually possible 'for approximately 80 percent of the time'.
Borisov emphasised the importance of the internet on the ISS, citing its necessity for work-related activities and maintaining a sense of normality. He highlighted its role in enabling the crew to stay updated with news and videos, listen to music, and make video calls to loved ones.
"This level of convenience helps us stay connected with our friends and relatives, unwind during our free time, and stay updated with the latest news from Earth," said the cosmonaut.
Borisov arrived at the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft with the Crew-7 expedition on August 27, 2023.
The crew also included NASA astronaut and Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
Borisov is the third Russian cosmonaut to travel to the ISS aboard a SpaceX rocket, after Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev, who arrived at the station in October 2022 and March 2023, respectively.
Online, in orbit! Cosmonaut Borisov gets on the 'net aboard ISS *EXCLUSIVE*
Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov explained how the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) can still use the internet and stay connected - despite a distinct lack of fibre optics! - as seen on Friday, February 29.
Exclusive footage captured aboard the ISS shows Borisov with a specially designed tablet, as well as a monitor showing how the station is connected to a number of satellites.
"We rely on Ku-band satellite internet for our connection. In terms of speed, this internet service is quite comparable to what is commonly used on Earth, so there's nothing exceptionally high-speed about it. A distinctive aspect of our satellite internet is its resilience to weather interference, unlike its Earth-based counterpart. On Earth, weather conditions can intermittently disrupt satellite internet services, but up here, we experience stable connectivity as weather does not impact our satellite internet," he said.
He added that despite some periods with no communication at all, access to the internet was actually possible 'for approximately 80 percent of the time'.
Borisov emphasised the importance of the internet on the ISS, citing its necessity for work-related activities and maintaining a sense of normality. He highlighted its role in enabling the crew to stay updated with news and videos, listen to music, and make video calls to loved ones.
"This level of convenience helps us stay connected with our friends and relatives, unwind during our free time, and stay updated with the latest news from Earth," said the cosmonaut.
Borisov arrived at the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft with the Crew-7 expedition on August 27, 2023.
The crew also included NASA astronaut and Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
Borisov is the third Russian cosmonaut to travel to the ISS aboard a SpaceX rocket, after Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev, who arrived at the station in October 2022 and March 2023, respectively.
Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov explained how the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) can still use the internet and stay connected - despite a distinct lack of fibre optics! - as seen on Friday, February 29.
Exclusive footage captured aboard the ISS shows Borisov with a specially designed tablet, as well as a monitor showing how the station is connected to a number of satellites.
"We rely on Ku-band satellite internet for our connection. In terms of speed, this internet service is quite comparable to what is commonly used on Earth, so there's nothing exceptionally high-speed about it. A distinctive aspect of our satellite internet is its resilience to weather interference, unlike its Earth-based counterpart. On Earth, weather conditions can intermittently disrupt satellite internet services, but up here, we experience stable connectivity as weather does not impact our satellite internet," he said.
He added that despite some periods with no communication at all, access to the internet was actually possible 'for approximately 80 percent of the time'.
Borisov emphasised the importance of the internet on the ISS, citing its necessity for work-related activities and maintaining a sense of normality. He highlighted its role in enabling the crew to stay updated with news and videos, listen to music, and make video calls to loved ones.
"This level of convenience helps us stay connected with our friends and relatives, unwind during our free time, and stay updated with the latest news from Earth," said the cosmonaut.
Borisov arrived at the ISS aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft with the Crew-7 expedition on August 27, 2023.
The crew also included NASA astronaut and Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
Borisov is the third Russian cosmonaut to travel to the ISS aboard a SpaceX rocket, after Anna Kikina and Andrey Fedyaev, who arrived at the station in October 2022 and March 2023, respectively.