NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) demo aboard the Psyche mission successfully demonstrated high-bandwidth laser data transmission over vast distances, achieving up to 267 Mbps at 19 million miles and 6.25 Mbps at 240 million miles, showcasing the potential for advanced deep-space communication, with plans for possible reactivation in 2026.
NASA beamed a 15-second cat video featuring Taters the cat 19 million miles into deep space as part of a test for the Deep Space Network's new communication paradigm, Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN). This innovative feat aims to address the challenges of maintaining robust communication channels in deep space, marking a significant advancement in space communication technology and paving the way for reliable communication in future deep-space missions.
NASA's experimental hybrid antenna at the Deep Space Network has successfully tracked and decoded the downlink laser from the Psyche spacecraft, demonstrating the potential for retrofitting giant dish antennas for optical communications. This breakthrough paves the way for higher-data-rate communications and supports future space exploration capabilities, including sending humans to Mars. The antenna's ability to receive both radio frequency and near-infrared laser signals marks a significant advancement in deep space communication technology.