NASA can communicate with the space station, why can't naval ships communicate with submerged submarines?

Question

NASA sends electronic signals to the orbiting space station and they are received, why can't naval ships communicate with submerged submarines without using a
communications bouy, or the submarine coming within 10-20 feet of the surface? Any takers? thanks

Answer 1

Naval ships do communicate with submerged submarines. They just don't used radio waves to do it, because water isn't a very good transference medium. they used sound instead.

When they need to talk to a submarine when submerged, they can use radio waves of an extremely long wave length, but it requires an antennae so large, its not practical to carry it aboard a ship. So, they use the ships sonar oscillator to talk to the sub.

Answer 2

Relativity. while you're in a plane traveling at 300mph, you may walk approximately, have a meal, study a e book particularly plenty the comparable as while you're siting at domicile - the two you and the plane are traveling on the comparable velocity and direction, so there is no stream in relative words. maintenance on the sting of area are only the comparable, the main important distinction is they are extreme adequate so as that there is truly little ecosystem to reason drag, subsequently there is little distinction between interior and outdoors the gap deliver (the gap extra healthful maintians inner tension for the astronaut although).

Answer 3

They can. ELF communications.

But water and salinity layers do pose problems...and ELF is V E R Y slow. Usually they just send a signal for the sub to come to periscope depth to receive a message through regular coded frequencies.

EDIT:

I've never heard of a "communications buoy". Not to say they don't exist...but why? Except perhaps in a busy shipping channel. I don't think my sub ever came across one, but then again, I spent most of my time in the engineering spaces.

Answer 4

Sssssssh! I agree with the water is denser than air bit, but, and keeep this quiet, because we dont know who else is listning, Mostly because submarines are supposed to avoid all contact with anybody, that's why they are known as the "silent service", slip in, observe, launch the torpedoes, launch the missiles, slip out, the enemy usually has his anti-submarine, subs hunting our subs, radio communications to a sub, unless burst encripted could give away a subs postion.

Ok??

Answer 5

they can a little bit with very low frequency radio

Extremely Low Frequency
The ELF frequencies used, in the 40?0 Hz range, were selected for their long range signal propagation (i.e., global) and ability to penetrate seawater to depths several hundred feet below the surface. In addition to the inherent covertness this communication system provides, it also provides the submarine Commanding Officer with operational flexibility to remain at required mission depth and speed.


Very Low Frequency (VLF) communications transmitters use digital signals to communicate with submerged submarines on at frequencies of 3-30 kHz. The eighteen Trident submarines constitute about half the US strategic nuclear capability. The supporting infrastructure for these submarines includet connectivity links such as the Extremely Low Frequency (ELF), Very Low Frequency (VLF), and TACAMO Airborne VLF communications systems.

The Navy shore VLF/LF transmitter facilities transmit a 50 baud submarine command and control broadcast which is the backbone of the submarine broadcast system. The VLF/LF radio broadcast provides robustness (i.e., improved performance in atmospheric noise), availability, global coverage, and has seawater penetrating properties. The submarine VLF/LF broadcasts operates in a frequency range from 14 to 60 kHz and consists of five high powered, multi-channel MSK Fixed VLF (FVLF) sites and five multi-channel LF sites located worldwide. As part of the FY94 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Navy Radio Transmitter Facility (NRTF) Annapolis closed in FY96 and NRTF Adak closed in FY97.


read more about it at the site below

Answer 6

partly physics( water sucks as a conductor of anything except electrical current and sonar) but mostly for OPSEC. the whole purpose of a submarine's life is to dissappear and NOT be found. maintianing communications silence is par for the course for the Silent Service.

Answer 7

The electronic signals simply can't travel through the water. The deeper the water gets the denser the molecules are packed together

Answer 8

because when the radio signals are going to the space station they are going through gaseous matter, whereas when they are sending radio signals to the submarines, they are going through water, which has a damping effect on radio waves

Answer 9

radio waves travel differently in water than air. Water is much denser. Space is much thinner.

(BTW Bullets don't travel far in water either. Same principle, though in a more visible format.)

Answer 10

because water is denser then air, and radio waves have trouble passing through it.