BOFFINS at the Oerlikon Space centre have established a laser data link across a distance of a million miles.
The network uses a laser to transmit data across huge distances through the universe far more rapidly and efficiently than is possible using radio.
Obviously since there are no space ships a million miles away from earth, the Oerlikon engineers set up a laser link between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife.
The transmission unit was modified in such a way that the conditions on the 90-mile stretch between the islands exactly reflected those that would prevail on a million mile link through space.
Despite the fact that the experiment was affected by bad weather it managed to make a link and get speeds of more than 10 Mbit/sec.
According to the Oerlikon press office this will mean you can transmit the entire text of the Bible into two seconds. This will be a boon to the Gideon organisation if they forgot to put one in a spaceship bedside cabinet.
Laser communication could also be used for transmitting data to Earth during future missions to the moon although how long it would be before people on a moon based started receiving penis-enhancing spam is another matter.
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