May The 4th Be With You: The Internet In Space and Star Wars
Happy May the 4th be with you day!
For all you lovers of Star Wars, technology, or space exploration, we've created this article to show examples of how the internet was used in space in your favorite Star Wars films, prequels, sequels, and TV shows.
We will then return to Earth to see how the internet in space is currently used by astronauts on the International Space Station and what the future holds for the internet in space due to current advances in satellite internet.
But before we jump in...
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Now, let's travel to a galaxy far, far away....
Table of contents
- How did they use the internet in space in Star Wars?
- History of the Internet in space
- How fast is the internet in space?
- How will the internet in space be used in the future?
How did they use the internet in space in Star Wars?
Here are some of the ways the internet in space was depicted in the Star Wars universe. Some of this technology is what we use today, and others we are still far away from, but who knows what the future of technology could bring?
HoloNet
The HoloNet was used in Star Wars to communicate across the galaxy with real-time messages, holograms, or broadcasts, kind of like FaceTime. It works using a system of hyperspace relays that transmit data faster than the speed of light for communication between planets.
HoloNet was initially used by the Galactic Republic, but following the Battle of Endor, the New Republic took control of HoloNet and eased the Imperial restrictions and censorship of communications.
HoloNet programming could be watched via a holocaster, and could also be used to look up information, such as when C-3PO used it to find out news on the Battle of Endor.
Subspace Transceivers and Comlinks
A subspace transceiver, also called a subspace comm, radio, hypertransceiver, vox, or wide-band radio receptor, was used for communications between nearby systems. It is similar to Comlink, but this was used for shorter ranges and is a cheaper alternative to HoloNet.
In the Star Wars films, starships used these transceivers for communication between nearby systems by planetary governments or the wealthy. Messages could be sent across the galaxy through multiple networks, but this would take longer because they are routed through different networks. In the films, the Imperial Star Destroyer had a range of 100 light-years.
Datacards
Even though the internet in space is pretty advanced, much like today, characters in the Star Wars universe would still value the privacy of confidential documents by transferring sensitive data via physical devices, known as data cards, similar to the SSDs we use today.
Data cards would be used to prevent information from being intercepted, tracked, or hacked. The most iconic example of this is a scene from A New Hope, where Princess Leia gives the Death Star plans to R2-D2, who takes them to Obi-Wan, where the plans are eventually analyzed at a Rebel base.
Data cards are also seen in Rogue One, the prequel to A New Hope, where the Death Star plans are physically extracted and passed on with a data tape. The tape is later delivered to Princess Leia’s ship, the Tantive IV.
Datapads
A datapad is a mobile gadget in the Star Wars universe for inputting, storing, and displaying information. Some datapads had additional features such as location tracking, and training datapads were used by cadets in the Imperial Academy. The Advanced Science Division of the Galactic Empire could also use their datapads as keys to open doors.
We see datapads used across the Star Wars universe, as well as in the expanded universe, with appearances in The Mandalorian and Andor, available on the popular streaming service, Disney+.
With the popularity of Datapads in Star Wars, one can only hope they had the necessary mobile device management protocols in place to keep their devices safe from whatever malware was making its way around the galaxy.
Slicers
With both the good and bad guys carrying all sorts of sensitive data, there, of course, have to be hackers trying to gain unauthorized access to private information. These hackers are known as slicers, individuals who specialize in accessing, or "slicing into," computer systems, programs, and breaking encryption.
An example of slicing in the Star Wars canon is shown nine months after the First Battle of Geonosis. Scientists working for the Separatist leader, Count Dooku, successfully sliced into the Republic HoloNet. Dooku used this access to HoloNet to broadcast propaganda Shadowfeeds.
Cyberterrorism and warfare are recurring themes in fantasy and sci-fi films, and Star Wars is no exception; both the Rebels and the Empire use the internet in space for digital warfare and to prevent hackers from accessing their networks.
Ironically, Count Dooku met his end in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin sliced his head off.
History of the Internet in space
Now, let’s return to our own galaxy and find out a bit more about how the internet in space came to be, how NASA currently uses the internet, and what the future holds.
1990’s
The internet in space was not really a thing in the 90s. Instead, communications relied on radio and basic data links to connect spacecraft and satellites with ground control (to Major Tom).
These signals allowed NASA to send and receive data, commands, and images to and from spacecraft in Earth’s orbit and beyond. The technology is similar to subspace transceivers in Star Wars.
2000’s
The internet in space came to fruition in 2000, when a laptop with dial-up internet access was installed on the International Space Station (ISS). If you’re too young to remember dial-up internet, it was the most common way to access the internet at the time, and came with annoying buzzing noises and low speeds of up to 56 Kbps.
It was the first time the internet in space became available to astronauts on board the ISS, and they had to use this annoyingly slow internet for the next 10 years until the next upgrade became available.
2010’s
In 2010, Wi-FI was available on the ISS for the first time. This was made possible by Wireless Access Points (WAPs) that provide a wireless connection between devices on the station, similar to the access points in offices and homes.
Devices on the ISS are interconnected in a local network which are connected to the main communication channel here on Earth.
All devices on the ISS are interconnected in a local network, which, in turn, is connected to the main communication channel with Earth.
Since the internet was good enough to provide a fast and reliable connection, the first tweet was sent from space in January 2010 by astronaut TJ Creamer. Not quite the same as HoloNet communication, but still pretty cool that social media is available in space.
2020’s
As we move to the future, companies like SpaceX have developed the first satellite internet to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet access from space, accessible anywhere on Earth.
Starlink launched the first 60 satellites in May 2019. As of April 2025, 7,227 Starlink satellites are in orbit, with 7,202 of them operational and 6,576 actively providing internet to over 70 countries.
As satellite internet offers internet access to even the most remote places, such as Alaska, over the next few decades, it could become available on Mars and other distant locations.
For more information, check out our What is Starlink article.
How fast is the internet in space?
In recent years, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system achieved speeds of up to 267 Mbps when NASA's Psyche spacecraft transmitted a 15-second, ultra-high-definition video from a distance of approximately 31 million kilometers (19 million miles) to Earth.
| System | Speed (Mbps) | Distance Tested | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSOC (NASA) | Up to 267 | Up to 140 million miles | Deep space missions, e.g., Mars, Psyche |
| Starlink Gen2 | Up to 1,000 | Low Earth Orbit | Global broadband, remote connectivity |
How will the internet in space be used in the future?
We may be far away from sending holographs to distant planets. Still, with the race to colonize Mars, and fast internet already available, we could find ourselves asking for the Wi-Fi code in a coffee shop on Mars before we know it.
Just remember to use a VPN if you do, which you can get with our cloud storage plans for 85% off!