NASA's newly developed space radio system to help track airplanes worldwid in real time

Now tracking flights accurately would be a reality soon! NASA’s new space-based radio system would help track aircraft in real time across the globe.

This technological advance could make air travel safer and ensure that flights can be quickly located in case of any mishaps.

The powerful radio communications network would allow scientists to receive data, such as pictures of cryovolcanoes on Pluto- or tweets from astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

“A reconfigurable radio lets engineers change how the radio works throughout the life of any space mission," said Thomas Kacpura, Advanced Communications Programme manager at NASA's Glenn Research Centre in the US.

“It can also be upgraded to work better with future missions or to enhance performance, just by adding new software,” said Kacpura.

To develop this new, reconfigurable, higher-bandwidth radio, NASA scientists worked with US-based technology company Harris Corporation.

The radios will be used to create the first space-based global air traffic control system.

Till today, airplanes have relied on radar surveillance via land-based radar stations. That is left huge gaps - particularly over oceans - where air traffic controllers have no real-time information.

To keep a check on the airplane routes and tracks, pilots file detailed flight plans and are required to remain within prescribed lanes at different altitudes so air traffic controllers can estimate where they are and work to ensure there are no mid-air collisions.

The newly designed radios are programmed to receive signals from new airplane transceivers called ADS-B, which automatically send out a flight's number, location, heading and other details.

“Within seconds you can keep track of all the aircraft in the world,” said Harris systems engineer Jeff Anderson. With real-time global tracking, planes can fly with less space between them and take more direct routes.

“It tremendously improves public safety and potentially saves a lot of fuel costs, because you no longer have to remain in the particular airline traffic lanes," Anderson said. This same system may also be used to track ships.

With Inputs from PTI