Why are trans-continental cables needed to transmit data when so much can be done via satellite?
Rear Admiral Grace Hopper used to carry around a length of fiber-optic cable that was 1ns in length that light can travel to explain to other members of government that there is a fixed length that light can travel in a given distance. The distance to satellites being so much greater would've mea…
The Short Answer
Rear Admiral Grace Hopper used to carry around a length of fiber-optic cable that was 1ns in length that light can travel to explain to other members of government that there is a fixed length that light can travel in a given distance. The distance to satellites being so much greater would've meant a bottleneck for data transfer to satellites. Finally the last point was that wired communications were secure against over the air reception by unintended parties. In the end a combination of servicing, scalability, cost and reliability came to be why we laid cable in the oceans. Additionally the understanding and industry was already there as we had done the mapping to lay telegraph cables, which needed replacing as over the course of 2 world wars these had been intentionally and unintentionally damaged.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Length, cable, light
This explanation focuses on length, cable, light and spans 134 words across 5 sentences. At 97% above the average Space & Astronomy explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Rear Admiral Grace Hopper used to carry around a length of fiber-optic cable that was 1ns in length that light can trave” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Space & Astronomy
Ranked #43 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by answer depth (top 9%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why trans-continental cables needed to transmit data when so much can be done via satellite?
Rear Admiral Grace Hopper used to carry around a length of fiber-optic cable that was 1ns in length that light can travel to explain to other members of government that there is a fixed length that light can travel in a given distance. The distance…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Space & Astronomy questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 134 words, ranked #43 of 500 Space & Astronomy questions by depth. The key concepts covered are length, cable, light.
What approach does this answer take to explain trans-continental cables needed to transmit data when so muc?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 134 words. It is categorized under Space & Astronomy and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.