NASA's 91 Gbps Internet Speed: How Did They Achieve It?
Back in 2013, news broke of NASA shattering internet speed records. In an experiment, NASA researchers were able to reach up to 91 gigabits per second. To put that into perspective, the average internet speed in the US in 2021 is 44 megabits per second. So basically, NASA’s network speeds back in 2013 were nearly 2000 times faster than today’s average speeds.
NASA's achievement in 2013 was a result of an experiment conducted by researchers at the space agency, using a technology called "Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science" (OPALS). OPALS uses laser communications to transmit data, which is able to provide higher data rates and wider bandwidths than traditional radio frequency communications. This technology was used to transmit data from the International Space Station to Earth at a rate of 91 Gbps. However, it's important to note that this was an experimental technology and it wasn't used for daily operations. NASA continues to experiment with and develop new communication technologies with the aim of increasing data rates, security, and reliability.
I have conducted research through various official statements, news articles, and credible sources on the internet to understand the details of NASA's internet speed record from 2013. I will present my findings in the clearest and most accurate way possible.
In 2013, NASA conducted an experiment on their ESNet network and was able to achieve a maximum speed of 91Gbps. However, this was only possible in a controlled and optimized environment where all factors could be manipulated.
What Network Does NASA Use?
NASA does not rely on commercial internet service providers for their internet needs. They have their own dedicated networks and infrastructure for transmitting information, separate from the public internet and the World Wide Web. They do not rely on companies like Comcast for internet service.
NASA uses a separate, secure network for transmitting highly confidential and classified data, as the public internet is considered insecure for this type of sensitive information. The need for security and protection of classified data is the main reason why they do not use commercial internet providers or the public internet.
To accomplish this task, they utilize a network referred to as the Energy Science Network (ESnet). This network is heavily monitored and protected by advanced encryption technology, and is primarily utilized for scientific research.
NASA operates field centers globally and requires a high level of speed and security when transmitting time-critical data across different regions and time zones around the world.
NASA researchers achieved those high speeds utilizing this network. As this network is designed to meet highly time-sensitive requirements, the infrastructure, and equipment that underpin it enables it to attain extremely high speeds.
In addition to the high-speed capabilities, the network also experiences less traffic congestion compared to the public internet, thus allowing for even faster speeds that are difficult to attain on the public internet.
How Fast is NASA’s Internet?
A common misunderstanding is that NASA's internet speeds are 91 gigabytes per second (GB/s) instead of gigabits per second (Gbps). To clarify, a bit and a byte are units of measurement for digital information. A bit is the basic unit of information in computing and digital communications, which is either 0 or 1. A byte, on the other hand, is a unit of digital information that typically consists of eight bits. Therefore, one byte is equal to eight bits. In terms of internet speeds, Gbps is a measure of data transfer rate, and GB/s is a measure of data storage capacity. Therefore, 91 Gbps is much faster than 91 GB/s.
A bit is the most fundamental unit of data in a computer. It has a binary value of either 1 or 0. A byte, on the other hand, is a collection of 8 individual bits. A byte is usually the unit used for data transmission and storage.
Gigabits vs Gigabytes Explained
As 8 bits make up 1 byte, 1 gigabit is equal to 125,000 bytes. When multiplied by 1000, it equals approximately 125 million bytes or 125 megabytes. Therefore, a speed of 91 gigabits per second is equivalent to 11.375 gigabytes per second (91 x 125 million bytes).
Therefore, a 91 gigabit per second speed can transfer 11.375 gigabytes of data per second. The unit of bytes is more commonly used and well-known when referring to data size.
This should not detract from NASA's achievement, as the average internet speed in the US is only 5.5 megabytes per second, which is significantly slower in comparison.
The 91 GBPS Reality
It's important to note that the experiment was conducted on a testbed network under ideal conditions with state-of-the-art hardware. Therefore, NASA's regular network speeds will not be as fast as the speeds achieved during this experiment on the ESNet.
It should be noted that the experiment was conducted with all equipment operating at their maximum capacity, which would be both cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive to maintain on a 24/7 basis. The experiment was a demonstration of the capabilities of the ESNet network, showing it can achieve extremely high speeds.
How Did NASA Achieve This Staggering Speed?
NASA researchers conducted this test on a testbed network on their ESNet, also known as the "shadow internet" network. They transmitted data between NASA's Goddard Research Center in Maryland and the Supercomputing Conference 2013 in Denver. They were able to achieve these high speeds due to the minimal number of hops the connection had to make.
Every computer network experiences latency when it stops at each network node, and the ESNet network is no exception. Due to the relatively few nodes on the testbed network, the researchers were able to attain extremely high speeds. As you can imagine, this is a highly ideal scenario and would be difficult to replicate on the commercial ESNet network, let alone on the public internet which has millions of nodes all over the world.
Why Does NASA Need Such High-Speed Internet?
A logical question to ask is why NASA would invest taxpayer dollars to achieve faster internet speeds when its primary focus is not on streaming movies or playing games. The answer is that high-speed internet is critical for NASA's operations. The large amount of scientific data that is generated and processed by NASA requires high-speed, secure networks to transmit and store it. Additionally, NASA's field centers are located all over the world, and the ability to quickly and securely share time-sensitive information across different time zones and locations is crucial for the success of their missions.
The straightforward answer is that NASA deals with a lot of data. Let it be the data from radio telescopes or the high-resolution images from its space telescopes. It even includes the networking they do on the ground, between laboratories and international field centers.
NASA is responsible for gathering and analyzing a large amount of data on a daily basis. Additionally, they must ensure the security of this information as they often work with classified or confidential data that could harm national security if it were to fall into the wrong hands.
The data NASA deals with is time-sensitive and needs to be processed quickly, as delays can negatively impact ongoing experiments and equipment that is being remotely monitored.
Clearing Up Misconceptions
The speeds that NASA tested back in 2013 are not even recorded anymore. A team of researchers from Japan managed to beat the record by an enormous margin. They were able to record speeds of up to 319 Tb/s, almost 3,000 times faster.
These speed records get shattered now and then. It just goes to show how rapidly science and technology, especially networking, are growing.
Research in fields like networking and data transfer not only benefits NASA but also eventually trickles down to benefit the average consumer. For example, optical fiber cables, which were once experimental in the 1960s and 1970s, are now widely used. With ongoing research in these fields, the future of internet speeds for the general public is likely to continue to improve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What country has 7G?
As of the time of writing, there is no country that has 7G internet. "G" stands for generation and denotes a set of specifications that improve internet performance compared to the previous generation. Currently, research and development for 6G technology are ongoing.
What is the highest speed of the internet in NASA?
NASA has exceptional internet speeds due to the nature of the data they handle. Their networks have been measured at 91 gigabits per second, as determined by an experiment conducted in 2013. However, it's important to note that this speed is not consistent throughout their entire network, but it is still faster than the typical office network.
What is the world’s fastest internet speed?
The fastest internet speed that has been achieved experimentally was recorded by a team of scientists in Japan, who reached speeds of up to 319 terabytes per second.
What is NASA's internet speed record?
In 2013, NASA conducted an experiment on their ESNet network and was able to achieve a maximum speed of 91Gbps.
What network does NASA use?
NASA uses a separate, secure network called the Energy Science Network (ESnet) for transmitting highly confidential and classified data.
Why doesn't NASA use commercial internet service providers?
NASA does not use commercial internet service providers for their internet needs because the public internet is considered insecure for the transmission of sensitive information.
How fast is NASA's internet?
A speed of 91 gigabits per second is equivalent to 11.375 gigabytes per second. This is significantly faster than the average internet speed in the US, which is 5.5 megabytes per second.
How did NASA achieve this speed?
NASA researchers conducted this test on a testbed network on their ESNet, also known as the "shadow internet" network. They transmitted data between NASA's Goddard Research Center in Maryland and the Supercomputing Conference 2013 in Denver and were able to achieve these high speeds due to the minimal number of hops the connection had to make.
What technology did NASA use to achieve this speed?
NASA used a technology called "Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science" (OPALS) to transmit data, which is able to provide higher data rates and wider bandwidths than traditional radio frequency communications.
Is this speed still used today?
No, this speed was only achieved in an experimental setting and is not used for daily operations. NASA continues to experiment with and develop new communication technologies.
How does NASA's internet compare to commercial internet speeds?
NASA's internet speed is significantly faster than commercial internet speeds. The average internet speed in the US in 2021 is 44 megabits per second, while NASA's internet speed in 2013 was 91 gigabits per second.
Can this technology be used for commercial internet?
It's possible that the technology used by NASA in this experiment could be adapted for commercial use in the future, but it would likely require significant investment and development before it could be implemented on a large scale.
Is 500 Mbps good?
Having an internet speed of 500Mbps allows you to multitask and perform any internet-related activity without any lag or buffering. For example, you can stream multiple 4K Netflix shows simultaneously as Netflix recommends a minimum speed of 25Mbps for 4K content.
