What is the DSOC optical communications system
Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) uses laser technology to transmit information. This allows speeds of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, far surpassing conventional radio systems.
NASA received a video sent by the Psyche probe from 31 million km (19.3 million miles) in just 101 seconds
Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) uses laser technology to transmit information. This allows speeds of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, far surpassing conventional radio systems.
NASA has confirmed a historic breakthrough: it managed to receive a video sent from 31 million kilometers (19.3 million miles) away. The signal arrived in just 101 seconds, marking a turning point in interplanetary communications.
This achievement was made possible thanks to the Psyche mission and the DSOC system, which uses lasers instead of radio waves. This test paves the way for future high-definition transmissions from Mars and beyond.
The Psyche probe transmitted a 15-second clip featuring a kitten. Although simple, the experiment demonstrated the system's power and how it can send high-quality data at great speed.
The signal was received at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, where it was confirmed that the transmission took just under two minutes to reach Earth.
The receiving stations convert the laser light into digital data. With this breakthrough, space missions will be able to send high-definition images and videos from millions of kilometers (millions of miles) away.
The Psyche mission, launched on October 13, 2023, aims to study a metallic asteroid located in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is believed to be composed of iron and nickel, similar to the cores of rocky planets.
Scientists believe it could be the exposed core of a planet that never formed. Its data will help provide a better understanding of the origin of Earth and other worlds in the solar system.