NASA’s Psyche spacecraft recently made headlines for its groundbreaking use of Deep Space Optical Communications technology, setting new records in spacecraft communications. The technology, which successfully transmitted engineering data from over 140 million miles away, showcased its potential for future missions.
During a recent demonstration, the project team achieved data transmission rates of up to 267 megabits per second, comparable to broadband internet speeds. The team successfully transmitted data optically to the Hale Telescope at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, despite challenges such as weather interruptions. The optical communications technology exceeded expectations in data transmission, demonstrating its reliability in deep space.
The project also showcased the ability to receive data from the high-power uplink laser and send data back to Earth, covering a distance of up to 280 million miles. To enhance the deep space signal, multiple ground stations were arrayed together, boosting the reliability of optical communications.
The Deep Space Optical Communications demonstration is part of NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions program, funded through the Space Technology Mission Directorate and SCaN program. Arizona State University leads the Psyche mission, managed by JPL and supported by various industry partners.
The Psyche mission aims to explore the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with the spacecraft equipped with high-power solar electric propulsion technology. For more information about the laser communications demo, visit the official JPL website.
Media Contact:
Ian J. OโNeill
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-2649
[email protected]
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