DSOC, an experiment that could transform how spacecraft communicate, has achieved 'first light,' sending data via laser to and from far beyond the Moon for the first time.
Riding aboard the recently launched Psyche spacecraft, DSOC is configured to send high-bandwidth test data to Earth during its two-year technology demonstration as Psyche travels to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
The tech demo achieved 'first light' in the early hours of
Learn more about how DSOC will be used to test high-bandwidth data transmission beyond the Moon for the first time - and how it could transform deep space exploration. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
'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: sending humans to Mars,' said
Test data also was sent simultaneously via the uplink and downlink lasers, a procedure known as 'closing the link' that is a primary objective for the experiment. While the technology demonstration isn't transmitting Psyche mission data, it works closely with the Psyche mission-support team to ensure DSOC operations don't interfere with those of the spacecraft.
'Tuesday morning's test was the first to fully incorporate the ground assets and flight transceiver, requiring the DSOC and Psyche operations teams to work in tandem,' said
Before this achievement, the project needed to check the boxes on several other milestones, from removing the protective cover for the flight laser transceiver to powering up the instrument. Meanwhile, the Psyche spacecraft is carrying out its own checkouts, including powering up its propulsion systems and testing instruments that will be used to study the asteroid Psyche when it arrives there in 2028.
First Light and First Bits
With successful first light, the DSOC team will now work on refining the systems that control the pointing of the downlink laser aboard the transceiver. Once achieved, the project can begin its demonstration of maintaining high-bandwidth data transmission from the transceiver to
The DSOC experiment aims to demonstrate data transmission rates 10 to 100 times greater than the state-of-the-art radio frequency systems used by spacecraft today. Both radio and near-infrared laser communications utilize electromagnetic waves to transmit data, but near-infrared light packs the data into significantly tighter waves, enabling ground stations to receive more data. This will help future human and robotic exploration missions and support higher-resolution science instruments.
'Optical communication is a boon for scientists and researchers who always want more from their space missions, and will enable human exploration of deep space,' said Dr.
While optical communication has been demonstrated in low Earth orbit and out to the Moon, DSOC is the first test in deep space. Like using a laser pointer to track a moving dime from a mile away, aiming a laser beam over millions of miles requires extremely precise 'pointing.'
The demonstration also needs to compensate for the time it takes for light to travel from the spacecraft to Earth over vast distances: At Psyche's farthest distance from our planet, DSOC's near-infrared photons will take about 20 minutes to travel back (they took about 50 seconds to travel from Psyche to Earth during the
'Achieving first light is a tremendous achievement. The ground systems successfully detected the deep space laser photons from DSOC's flight transceiver aboard Psyche,' said
More About the Mission
DSOC is the latest in a series of optical communication demonstrations funded by
The Psyche mission is led by
For more information about DSOC, visit:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/dsoc
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