On December 11, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications Experiment transmitted an ultra-high-definition streaming video from a record-breaking 19 million miles (31 million kilometers, approximately 80 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon). The milestone is part of a demonstration of NASA technology aimed at transmitting high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space - enabling future human missions beyond Earth orbit.
NASA has made a breakthrough in deep space communications, transmitting high-definition video from 19 million miles away, paving the way for advanced data transmission in space exploration. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA Associate Administrator Pam Melroy said: "This achievement underscores our commitment to advancing optical communications, a critical element in meeting future data transmission needs. Improving our bandwidth is critical to achieving future exploration and science goals, and we look forward to the continued advancement of this technology and the transformation of how we communicate on future interstellar missions."
On December 11, at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, DSOC team members watched the first high-definition streaming video sent from deep space via laser. The video, sent by a DSOC transceiver on board the Psyche spacecraft nearly 19 million miles from Earth, features a cat named Taters. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The demonstration transmitted 15 seconds of test video via a cutting-edge instrument called a flying laser transceiver (pictured below). The video signal, sent at the system's maximum bit rate of 267 megabits per second (Mbps), took 101 seconds to reach Earth. The instrument, which has the capability to send and receive near-infrared signals, transmits encoded near-infrared laser signals to the Hale Telescope at Caltech's Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, where they are downloaded. Each frame of the looped video is then sent "live" to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the video is played back in real time.
In April 2021, the flying laser transceiver for the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration was on display at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and was subsequently installed in a box-shaped enclosure and integrated with NASA's Psyche spacecraft. The transceiver consists of a near-infrared laser transmitter that sends high-rate data to Earth and a sensitive photon-counting camera that receives lower-rate data from the ground. The transceiver is mounted on an assembly of struts and actuators - shown here - that serve to stabilize the optics against spacecraft vibrations. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The laser communications demonstrator, launched on October 13 with NASA's Psyche mission, is designed to transmit data from deep space at rates 10 to 100 times higher than the most advanced radio frequency systems currently used by deep space missions. As Psyche flies to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the technology demonstration will send high-data-rate signals as far as the Red Planet's maximum distance from Earth. In doing so, it paves the way for higher-rate communications capable of sending complex scientific information, high-definition images and video to support humanity's next leap: sending humans to Mars.
"One of our goals is to demonstrate the ability to transmit broadband video across millions of miles. There's nothing on Psyche that generates video data, so we typically send randomly generated test packets," said Bill Klipstein, JPL's technical demonstration project manager. "But to make this momentous event even more memorable, we decided to work with designers at JPL to create a fun video that captures the essence of the demonstration that was part of the Psyche mission."
On December 11, 2023, NASA played this 15-second ultra-high-definition video from deep space via laser. The protagonist of the video is a cat named Taters. It was part of a demonstration of a technology called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) attached to the Psyche spacecraft traveling to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Graphics superimposed on the orange tabby cat show several features from the technology demonstration, such as Psyche's orbital path and technical information about the laser. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
In the ultra-high-definition video clip uploaded before the launch, a JPL employee's pet, an orange tabby cat named "Taters," chases the laser pointer, with some superimposed graphics. The footage shows features from the technology demonstration, such as Psyche's orbital path, the Palomar telescope's dome, and technical information about the laser and its data bitrate. In addition, the heart rate, color and variety of "potatoes" are also displayed.
"Despite transmitting from millions of miles away, it sends the video faster than most broadband Internet connections," said Ryan Rogalin, JPL's project receiving electronics lead. "In fact, after Palomar receives the video, it sends it to JPL over the Internet, which is slower than a signal from deep space. JPL's design lab has done a great job helping us demonstrate this technology -- everyone loves Taters."
A computer screen in the mission support area shows "Taters" the kitten in a still from the first high-definition streaming video sent by laser from deep space, as well as the incoming data stream transmitting the video frames. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
There is also a historical connection: starting in 1928, figurines of the popular cartoon character Felix the Cat appeared in television test broadcasts. Today, cat videos and memos are some of the most popular content online.
The latest milestone follows the achievement of "first light" on November 14. Since then, the system has demonstrated faster data downlink speeds and improved pointing accuracy during weekly inspections. On the evening of December 4, the project demonstrated downlink bitrates of 62.5Mbps, 100Mbps and 267Mbps, equivalent to broadband Internet download speeds. During this period, the team downloaded a total of 1.3TB of data. By comparison, NASA's Magellan mission to Venus downlinked 1.2 terabytes of data during its entire mission from 1990 to 1994.
"When we got the first light, we were excited, but also cautious. It's a new technology and we're experimenting with how it works," said Ken Andrews, JPL program flight operations leader. "But now, with the help of our Psyche colleagues, we have gradually become accustomed to working with the system and can lock the spacecraft and ground terminal for much longer than before. During each inspection, we learn something new."
JPL team members pose for a group photo after receiving the first streaming ultra-high-definition video from deep space. Remote team members (including Taters) appear on the meeting screen. From left to right are DanGoods, AbiBiswas, RyanRogalin, MeeraSrinivasan, BillKlipstein, OliverLay and ChristineChen. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Deep Space Optical Communications Demonstration is the latest in a series of optical communications demonstrations funded by the Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) program under NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate) and supported by the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program under NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate.
Compiled source: ScitechDaily