Navy lab experiment on ISS could improve long-range radio communications

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WASHINGTON — The Naval Research Laboratory plans to begin tests this spring of a pair of ionospheric sensors on the International Space Station — tests that if successful could lead to a constellation of monitoring satellites that would enhance Defense Department high frequency radio communications.

The Experiment for Characterizing the Lower Ionosphere & Prediction of Sporadic-E (ECLIPSE) sensors are slated to launch to the ISS in March via the DoD Space Test Program, Andrew Nicholas, one of the effort’s lead researchers, told Breaking Defense in an email.