Space Race Communication Interception?

[Djsnowboy267]

Were communications between spacecraft and the ground able to be intercepted by the other side? I assume that communications would be very different compared to on the ground. Is it possible to intercept communications to space craft, and did it happen? If so, how would it be prevented? Codes/encryption?

[hugix]

During the space race most communication wasn't encrypted. and why should you? Encryption can be a tedious process and requires more computing power. During the Apollo 11 descent to the Moon the computer started spewing out 1202 / 1201 alarms which meant that the computer was skipping non critical tasks because the CPU was being overloaded with calculations.

There have been a few space shuttle missions which where encrypted because it was in contract with the DOD.

[Nibb31]

During Apollo and Skylab, NASA didn't have TDRS satellites, so they needed ground stations all around the world to maintain continuous contact with the Apollo missions. If you wanted to listen continuously on those comms, you would have needed the same. The KGB routinely deployed "fishing trawlers" that were rigged with all sorts of satellite equipment...

There is no doubt that the Russians and the Americans were both listening in on each other's space program, which is why the stories about lost Russian cosmonauts and fake Moon landings are all hoaxes. It's hard to hide a space mission, and if those stories had been true, either side wouldn't have missed an opportunity to leak the truth out.

[Djsnowboy267]

Thanks guys. I watched a documentary on the Soviet Space Program last night and today we have to do research on some code for an English project. I was hoping there was some sort of cool Cold War space program code talk. Disappointing, but interesting nonetheless.

[hugix]

I'm not sure what your assignment is but about a year ago I did a research project on X-band communication (LONGGGGG range communication it is the communication form Earth to deep space probes).

If it has to be about encryption you could do it on the Enigma. The story of Bletchley park is just as exiting as Apollo 11. (If you love that kinda stuff)

[magnemoe]

During the space race most communication wasn't encrypted. and why should you? Encryption can be a tedious process and requires more computing power. During the Apollo 11 descent to the Moon the computer started spewing out 1202 / 1201 alarms which meant that the computer was skipping non critical tasks because the CPU was being overloaded with calculations.

There have been a few space shuttle missions which where encrypted because it was in contract with the DOD.

Yes, you do not encrypt signals from spaceship to Earth unless you have to, one more thing to go wrong and it take computer resources.

However you would want to encrypt control signals to probes and satellites, not only to prevent someone from sending orders to it who would be an far larger problem today than in 1960 but also to avoid noise from changing bit in your order,

[hugix]

Well not exactly. One of the main things with probes is that once you send them. You are stuck in that technology. You cannot update the probe. For hackers it is far to difficult / time consuming to collect these devices. Also you would need very large and expensive antenna's to send data.

And there is another drawback to encryption. Read this article on STS 27 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-27

[magnemoe]

Well not exactly. One of the main things with probes is that once you send them. You are stuck in that technology. You cannot update the probe. For hackers it is far to difficult / time consuming to collect these devices. Also you would need very large and expensive antenna's to send data.

And there is another drawback to encryption. Read this article on STS 27 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-27

True, deep space missions would be no problem as they require serious gear to contact, was thinking more of satellites in orbit who can be an target for both random hackers and hostile governments who might want to shut down an communication satellite.

For STS-27 it made lite sense, the payload was classified, not the shuttle so I see no reason to classify images of it. Typical bureaucrats.