# Is there Internet access on the ISS? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669 "2013-11-11T20:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/1 "2013-11-11T20:11:37Z")
I am lucky enough to have been picked to spend a few months up on the International Space Station doing some kind of experiment. During my downtime I assume I can watch a DVD or read a book because I brought my trusty laptop with me. Can I also surf the Internet while I am up there? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/2 "2013-11-11T20:36:52Z")
[ISS now has live access to the Internet.](http://www.universetoday.com/51782/iss-now-has-live-access-to-the-internet/) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/3 "2013-11-11T20:40:22Z")
There is internet on the ISS. NASA uses modified laptops on the ISS more for reasons of cooling than things like radiation. The lack of convection in a microgravity environment means that air doesn’t circulate well through a laptop and you can get overheating problems, even considering the laptop’s normal fans. As to the internet connection, the bandwidth is something close to 10 Mbits/Sec, so it’s pretty close to what many folks have for their home internet connection. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/4 "2013-11-11T20:40:49Z")
Ignorance fought. Thanks bup! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/5 "2013-11-11T20:47:02Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > There is internet on the ISS. NASA uses modified laptops on the ISS more for reasons of cooling than things like radiation. The lack of convection in a microgravity environment means that air doesn’t circulate well through a laptop and you can get overheating problems, even considering the laptop’s normal fans. > > As to the internet connection, the bandwidth is something close to 10 Mbits/Sec, so it’s pretty close to what many folks have for their home internet connection. How’s the latency? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/6 "2013-11-11T20:48:15Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I am lucky enough to have been picked to spend a few months up on the International Space Station doing some kind of experiment. > > During my downtime I assume I can watch a DVD or read a book because I brought my trusty laptop with me. Can I also surf the Internet while I am up there? Once you’re up there, you should do an “Ask the…” here and an [AMA](http://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/) on reddit! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/7 "2013-11-11T20:50:14Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > As to the internet connection, the bandwidth is something close to 10 Mbits/Sec, so it’s pretty close to what many folks have for their home internet connection. Any idea how that bandwidth is achieved (OK, scratch that, just read bup’s link), and what percentage of the ISS orbit has it available? Does it entirely depend on line of sight to a suitable ground station, or are there other paths available? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/8 "2013-11-11T20:55:51Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Any idea how that bandwidth is achieved (OK, scratch that, just read bup’s link), and what percentage of the ISS orbit has it available? Does it entirely depend on line of sight to a suitable ground station, or are there other paths available? Kinda bizarre that they set it up so that astronauts remote control a ground computer that’s then connected to the internet. I wonder why they don’t just set up a VPN-style proxy… a Twitter post is a lot less bandwidth-intensive than sending the whole screen of the ground computer. ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/9 "2013-11-11T22:25:29Z")
I guess Ping should not be a really noticeable, given the fact that the ISS is flying only at 370 km above ground. Therefore, light (and radio signals, therefore) would take only 0.001 second to get down to earth. Even with satellites, I guess the guys flying up there have way better internet than good part of the world. On the other hand, if the ISS were set on the sun I guess they would not be able to play any online games (well, maybe Tibia…), as it would take around 8 minutes for data to get down to earth. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/10 "2013-11-11T22:46:59Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I am lucky enough to have been picked to spend a few months up on the International Space Station doing some kind of experiment. > … Holy cow!! This is Big Shit!! :eek: I’m pretty sure you will be the first person to post to the SDMB from outer space. Actual, physical outer space, that is. Does Cecil know about this? Very cool. 🆒 Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/11 "2013-11-11T22:53:38Z")
Um, I’m pretty sure that part of the OP was rhetorical, not meant to be taken literally. If he really were picked, he’d be asking his NASA contacts questions like these, not us. ---
**Author:** ![eltro102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@eltro102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eltro102)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/12 "2013-11-11T22:54:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Holy cow!! This is Big Shit!! :eek: > > I’m pretty sure you will be the first person to post to the SDMB from outer space. Actual, physical outer space, that is. Does Cecil know about this? > > Very cool. 🆒 Congratulations. i think it was more of an introduction to a hypothetical no person who is actually picked to go to outer space would wonder if they would be allowed to watch a dvd in their downtime ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/13 "2013-11-11T23:48:01Z")
They’ve also got Stuxnet. Not from an internet connection, but through the old-fashioned humble tried-&-true infected usb drive. _Good news, patriots: One of America’s finest may be again heading into the final frontier. I’m talking, of course, about Stuxnet, the malware worm that the US and Israel designed to cripple Iran’s nuclear program. An in-depth 2012 report from The New York Times, and recent revelations from Edward Snowden, all but confirmed that the US was behind the virus—and has lost control of it. The malware is now attacking nuke plants as far away as Russia—and international space stations._ **[Motherboard](http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/stuxnet-americas-nuclear-plant-attacking-virus-has-infected-the-international-space-station)** The nuke plants are sometimes so old they don’t have internet, so again, direct malware application. Might not be necessary when it comes back to the west’s power stations. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/14 "2013-11-11T23:52:39Z")
dolphinboy is Howard Wolowitz! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/15 "2013-11-11T23:59:29Z")
> [@eltro102](#): > > i think it was more of an introduction to a hypothetical > no person who is actually picked to go to outer space would wonder if they would be allowed to watch a dvd in their downtime Boo. Hiss. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/16 "2013-11-12T00:55:43Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I wonder why they don’t just set up a VPN-style proxy… Security. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/17 "2013-11-12T01:15:53Z")
Without it, we wouldn’t have had the awesomeness of [Captain Kirk tweeting with a real live astronaut](http://www.cyberbuzz.com/2013/01/05/the-single-greatest-meme-to-ever-happen-on-twitter/) (not to mention Spock, Sulu, Wesley Crusher - oh yeah, and some guy named Buzz showing up…). Plus this [neat recorded-in-orbit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo) version of “Space Oddity.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/18 "2013-11-12T03:51:59Z")
Does Stuxnet actually _do_ anything to anything but its intended target? I had understood that it was extremely specific, only targeting facilities that had a certain specific number of specific modules in a specific configuration. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/19 "2013-11-12T11:17:21Z")
Since the question’s been answered, I thought you might enjoy a little [comedy](http://xkcd.com/713/) about the topic of internet access from the ISS, from the webcomic XKCD. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669/20 "2013-11-12T20:41:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Um, I’m pretty sure that part of the OP was rhetorical, not meant to be taken literally. If he really were picked, he’d be asking his NASA contacts questions like these, not us. Cynic. Bubble Popper. Stick in the mud! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-internet-access-on-the-iss/673669.md?page=2)