In a remarkable feat, Earth has successfully received laser-beamed communication from a record-breaking distance of 16 million kilometers, approximately 10 million miles, according to NASA. This achievement, made possible by the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) tool aboard NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, surpasses the distance between Earth and the moon by a factor of 40, marking the longest demonstration of optical communications to date.
The historic experiment involved establishing a communication link between the Psyche spacecraft and the Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory in California. Using DSOC’s near-infrared photons, the laser-beamed message took around 50 seconds to travel from Psyche to Earth during the test, which NASA refers to as “first light.”
Trudy Kortes, Director of Technology Demonstrations at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the significance of achieving first light, stating, “Achieving first light is one of many critical DSOC milestones in the coming months, paving the way toward higher-data-rate communications capable of sending scientific information, high-definition imagery, and streaming video in support of humanity’s next giant leap.”
Abi Biswas, Project Technologist for DSOC at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, highlighted the successful detection of deep space laser photons and the ability to convey data. He noted, “We could also convey data, implying that we may interchange ‘bits of light’ from and to deep space.”
The Psyche spacecraft’s primary mission is to explore and study the metallic asteroid Psyche, providing insights into the history of planet formation and core dynamics. The experiment is expected to last two years, with Psyche sending and receiving laser signals from progressively more distant locations on its way to the final destination—an asteroid projected to be reached in 2029.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson commented on the potential of the Psyche mission, stating, “The Psyche mission could provide humanity with new information about planet formation while testing technology that can be used on future NASA missions.” The use of lasers in deep space communication is a technological advancement that could significantly enhance data transmission speeds compared to traditional radio signals. NASA envisions the application of this technology in future space missions for both human and robotic exploration.
Read Now :Kartik Aaryan’s Birthday Celebrations: Temple Visit and Star-Studded Bash with Tara Sutaria
