In deep space communication, what data rates are used?

It depends on the size of the transmitting antenna, the power available on the spacecraft, and its distance among other parameters. Data rates of hundreds of kilobits/sec are typical for deep space missions to the outer solar system. In the near-earth environment, the rates can be in the megabits/sec. Galileo, without its main antenna, is forced to transmit at a few hundred bits per second, which is about 1000 times slower than intended. The low bit rates insure that each bit gets enough 'signal - to - noise' that it can be detected back on Earth with 100 percent reliability. Too fast a bit rate means that the power per bit can fall below the transmitter/receiver noise level and not be detected, so data rates are low and transmission power is high when you want the maximum reliability on the receiving end.


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