NASA Space Shuttle Secure Communications Console
Secure communications between Houston’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the orbiting Space Shuttle were vital. As part of a joint effort between NASA, the Department of Defense, and the National Security Agency, the Space Shuttle Encryption System became operational with the launch of Columbia, STS-4, in 1982. This communications console, although it held no cryptographic equipment, configured the crypto units in use between the shuttle and JSC. It was decommissioned with Atlantis, STS-135, on July 21, 2011 at the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program.
Seen at the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland.
An observation from someone who is not an expert in cryptography: Cryptography is about converting order (a written or spoken message) to disorder (an encrypted communication with no clear patterns) and vice versa. Thus, I find it interesting that a number of tools for cryptography—especially prior to the digital age—have a physical order or pattern.
NASA Space Shuttle Secure Communications Console
Secure communications between Houston’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the orbiting Space Shuttle were vital. As part of a joint effort between NASA, the Department of Defense, and the National Security Agency, the Space Shuttle Encryption System became operational with the launch of Columbia, STS-4, in 1982. This communications console, although it held no cryptographic equipment, configured the crypto units in use between the shuttle and JSC. It was decommissioned with Atlantis, STS-135, on July 21, 2011 at the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program.
Seen at the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland.
An observation from someone who is not an expert in cryptography: Cryptography is about converting order (a written or spoken message) to disorder (an encrypted communication with no clear patterns) and vice versa. Thus, I find it interesting that a number of tools for cryptography—especially prior to the digital age—have a physical order or pattern.