Hackers plan space satellites to combat censorship

Fucking hell ya!!!

While sounding extremely encouraging, it's difficult to imagine that hostile state forces can not breach and jam any and all satellites.

I just wrote the best post about distributed communication, then bumped the button on the side of my mouse, moving me back a page and sending my words to oblivion. Now my well articulated vision is history but I will try and stab at it. - Oh my original post was so much clearer and well thought out!

I'm very interested in this topic. Distributed browsing, functioning with the concept of sharing queries while helping move data efficiently among users could as well aid anonymity. Instead of wasting resources while simply browsing the web you could be distributing other users queries utilising bandwidth, availability and proximity to requested data. Currently the vast range of topics and mediums available online means that people are spread out in their communications, but imagine a system operating like a folding project where you lend spare resources to a system that increases your anonymity as you browse the web. A load balancing system that uses spare resources.

The idea of using many small satellites in clouds or swarms is better than smaller numbers of satellites that can be more easily targeted. Smaller satellites are easier to launch, use less energy and burn up on re-entry instead of posing a risk to life below. Now also imagine a browsing mode where queries are routed via a shared distributed resource. Other possibilities such as messaging with quick updates of popular topics could allow users to quickly respond and organise into larger groups. Unlike some of the social media we have where people gather in groups of friends on particular sites and react to news, the system would be an extension that allows users to anonymously pass on messages and commentate on developments, while also conducting web searches on relevant information without privacy concerns. A separate messaging system without worry of cookies, and other identifying data. A mass proxy system which is limited to simple communications, browsing web-pages containing text and offering private encrypted chat, but also operates separate of your main browser.

There are a few different systems out there, but many either rely on nodes or servers and are open to abuse, or are not simple enough to be easily used by many. A system that could allow people to quickly organise with the benefit of privacy would be great for oppressed people in politically sensitive environments. Imagine being able to lend your spare CPU cycles and unused resources to people in Tibet, China or Syria so they could privately communicate and browse the web.

I got the idea thinking about those satellites and I've been thinking lately how many clusters of smaller systems can be much better than bigger individual devices in certain situations. Swarms of tiny satellites for instance would provide a much harder target to hit with wide coverage. Using a series of small rocket boosters one on top of the other, each triggering the next, would be a cheap way of getting small objects into space.

Good post. I also like the idea of mesh grids and methods of distributed browsing and resource sharing. These techniques would make tracking technologies less of a problem if we shared our bandwidth and technologies more broadly amongst ourselves.

Browser and website technology could be developed along the lines of folding projects. Discovering proteins to fight diseases, finding complex mathematical solutions and providing improved anonymity while you browse or debate on the web.

VERY interesting. Thank you, Dagum.

good post. Of course, if something like that ever did go up it would probably be shot down by the u.s. government

Good post, Dagum.
Still, as freehit points out, I do wonder how we'd be able to keep the thing up there. Would likely go the way of Russia's mars probe.
But I remain optimistic.

Comment corrected: Sorry Dagum, thanks circle......... duh

Carrier pigeons work, too.

One wee little problem, certain governments have invested in satelite shootdown weapons and have demonstrated the will to use them.

sounds like a good idea to me...wish I had funds to donate, but I am going under fast. Where are the jobs? I can't move overseas with them.