Our Prototype Transmitter
Like any radio, the Spacecast transmitter uses electromagnetic waves to broadcast its signals. However, unlike your average radio, our transmissions are targeted directly into space!
Electromagnetic waves, more commonly referred to as radio waves, are made up of photons. Upon being dispersed from the transmitter, these photons (carrying your message) will travel at roughly 300,000,000 meters per second (the speed of light) - in the direction our antenna beams it towards.
In approximately 6 days the signal will have traveled beyond our solar system and will spend the next 2 years exiting the Oort Cloud, thus beginning its trek into interstellar space.
Source: Antennas - Selection and installation, © 1986, Master Publishing, inc.
Since the dawn of radio technology mankind has been inadvertently leaking radio signals into the great void.
Unbeknownst to most people, once radio waves enter the vacuum of space they continue to travel throughout the cosmos almost indefinitely - undisturbed for centuries to come.
Radio waves come in a wide spectrum of frequencies. Each having their own set of characteristics. The relationship between frequency and wavelength is simple, the higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength and vise versa.
Lower frequencies are commonly used for maritime radio as well as AM radio and higher frequencies are used for anything ranging from FM radio, TV, mobile phones - all the way to satellite and space communication.
The Ionosphere / Nighttime Transmissions
The ionosphere is the electrically charged atmosphere approximately 40 - 400 miles up, where the earths atmosphere meets space. It’s formed when particles are ionized by the sun’s energy and is also responsible for the aurora borealis!
The ionosphere is typically made up of 4 layers (the D, E, F1, and F2 layers). Some of these layers are capable of either absorbing or reflecting radio waves. The wavelengths of these radio waves determine whether these waves will absorb, reflect, or pass on through to outer space.
The D layer absorbs waves between 1-7MHz, while the E layer tends to reflect a wide range of signals back to Earth. The F1 and F2 layers are the farthest away and at night combine into one, while the D and E layers disappear entirely. This is why Spacecast only transmits during the nighttime hours, so there is little to no interference from the ionosphere. At night however, the F layer will usually bend waves but only between 1-15MHz. This is why it is imperative so transmit signals above a critical frequency.
Source: Antennas - Selection and Installation, © 1986, Master Publishing, Inc., Niles, Illinois
Critical Frequency
Critical frequency is defined as “the highest magnitude of frequency above which the waves penetrate the ionosphere and below which the waves are reflected back from the ionosphere”. In the world of communications its crucial to be below critical frequency in order to send and receive transmissions hundreds of miles away via bouncing off the ionosphere, but for us here at Spacecast the goal is very much the opposite. We need these signals to leave Earth and leak out where the vacuum of space will allow them to travel unimaginable distances!
By now you’re probably getting the gist. The Spacecast transmitter uses frequencies on the high end of the spectrum with an directional antenna powerful enough to beam signals out of Earths atmosphere and into space.
The Spacecast transmitter has now been upgraded to its ‘Pro’ version! Meaning we are now capable of sending lengthier text messages as well as photo messages to space! In the future we plan on upgrading to even bigger and better equipment capable of sending more powerful signals - as well as video and audio files!
Now that you have a general idea of the science behind Spacecast we hope you choose to send your very own immortal message to the stars today and help grow the community of Spacecast users all around the globe!
