Starsong Communication

Starsong Communication refers to the use of large space stations in low solar orbits to communicate information by obscuring the Starheart radiation that the star emits. This obfuscation can be detected by observatories in nearby star systems, allowing for communication to occur at the (near-infinite) speed of propagation of Starheart radiation. Starheart stations are functionally enormous arrays of very large shutters which can be opened and closed very rapidly, which allows for detailed patterns to be formed in the star’s starheart emissions. For practical communication, resolution is limited by the observatory in neighboring systems. Higher bandwidths are possible at shorter range. While Starsong messages require a shutter station for transmission, they can be detected from anywhere with the right instruments, including orbital and planetary installations and some starships. Starsong transmissions can only occur while the station is transiting the star relative to its target. To ensure frequent transmission windows, it is common to have stations orbiting as low as possible, although operation close to stars is difficult and expensive. Constellations of stations are the most frequent solution. Some systems actually have their Starsong arrays actively maintained in a constant position relative to the solar surface, although such stations are very expensive to maintain.

Starsong bandwidth varies between a handful of bits per second for the cheapest, or longest-range transmisson, to megabytes per second for high-resolution systems within their optimal ranges. Due to low bandwidth, starsong transmission is expensive, and message sizes are strictly limited.

Where present, Starsong networks are typically funded by government agencies. Building up a starsong network is typically among the first major projects of new interstellar polities or alliances, presuming they have the funds to afford it.