<![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> You know... in case you missed it, the shows we all watch don't come from outerspace. The actors you see on television actually are earthlings and the sets are right here on terra firma. Therefore, have any of you considered that since the shows originate on the planet, that they could be sent to the ISS as easily as to a Comm Sat? The ISS could select the shows they want to watch on their tivo to do list, and the show would be pushed to the box while they sleep or work, then they could watch it.!?

smartestguy

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> I wonder two things. One, and I am too lazy to look it up right now, but isn't the ISS' orbit higher than direct/dish's birds which transmit down only? This is of course forgetting about their stationary orbits.

And secondly, yhey offered up the services. Really? And why does it really matter? I mean, this is NASA we are talking about, don't we think they would have this already if they wanted and without asking. Its not like they don't know how to set the dial in just the right spot. If anyone gave them any shit about it I imagine all they need to do is take a bag of rocks up there and just flick one out the window as they pass by and kinda like pumpkins and mailboxes...bye bye satellite bitches!

mrz2u

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @Buji:

My HD DVR and HD receiver have never been plugged into a phone line; neither of them have ever complained.

Galley

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> This is a stab in the dark, but perhaps they intend to use NASA's existing ISS comms infrastructure to send the programming up there? I doubt that they have anything suitable for beaming a signal to the ISS themselves, and it's not the sort of thing you invest in for a PR boost.

Sockatume

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @Buji: What about the locals? Won't someone PLEASE think of the locals??

homerjay

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> Shame on Forbes (and others) for not even thinking about the science and why this is impossible, and just being mouthpieces for DirecTV's PR.

Not only will there be the (previously) mentioned problem that the DirectTV satellites are geo-stationary, but I also understand that a significant amount of DirecTV's programming is delivered via spotbeam technology, which has to be pointed in the general direction of the customers that are expecting to receive it. Also, there's no land-lines in space, and anyone who's ever had the misery of talking to a Direct (or Dish for that matter) knows that they throw a fit if the receiver's not plugged into a phone line.

Don't even get me started on the Distant Network waiver that would be necessary to provide local programming.

Buji

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @zarchitect:
Sarcasm is not your strong suit.

packetsniffer

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> what's that satellite dish pointing to? Mars? uhm - i'm not a rocket scientist and all but doesn't that thing need to point towards a uhmm what's that called - oh yeah, a satellite!?

zarchitect

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> By the time they get this installed Comcast will probably have THIS market monopolized too.

homerjay

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> "DirecTV is wisely offering NASA"
What exactly is wise about this? Nice maybe, but wise?

packetsniffer

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> So you arrive at the "pearly gates" and tell the man there. "Well, we blew up on re-entry, but at least I know who won American Idol..."

NNTPgrip

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> They should've gone with cable.

NZRUSS

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @PDSM: Eh, I'm sure Direct TV will be willing to pay for everything. After all it is just a great marketing ploy.

bbfreak

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> Man....I'd kill to be the install guy!

Emulsifide

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @BigDogues:
Right .. How would this even work? Half the time the satellite would be on the other side of the planet?? Clearly they know something we do not.


Monty

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> @BigDogues:

Yeah but those few hours are sure to provide one hell of a good, clear signal.

apeguero

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> I hope DirecTV's dish has autotracking. D*TV's birds are in geostationary orbit but the ISS is not. Even then they would only get a few hours of viewing at a shot.

BigDogues

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> DirecTV has trouble making service calls back on earth. They make Qwest seem like a pleasure to deal with which is saying a lot.

St3v3

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> They can't be working 24/7...

rbf2000

]]> <![CDATA[Direct TV Offering NASA HDTV in International Space Station, Service Calls To Be a Real Mother]]> So where spending millions to get em into space to watch TV ??

PDSM

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