If you thought Verizon FiOS was fast, wait ’til you hear this. The new high-power microwave signal amplifier on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter transmits data at 100 megabytes per second.

Let that sink in for a second. NASA has established a wireless connection of 100 megabytes per second — 800 megabits per second — to the Moon. Meanwhile, most wired DSL subscribers can barely get 3 megabits per second on Earth.

Sure, like many technologies developed in space, this so-called Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier will eventually filter to commercial applications on Earth. Given telcos’ hypocrisy over network expansion, however, don’t expect 800Mbps porn anytime soon.

Originally posted on August 21, 2009 @ 3:40 am