NASA achieved a development in deep space communication by transferring a high-definition video from 19 million miles, leading the way for advanced data transmission in area exploration. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe video, including a feline named Taters, was sent back from nearly 19 million miles away by NASAs laser interactions presentation, marking a historical milestone.NASAs Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on December 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-Moon distance). The milestone belongs to a NASA innovation presentation aimed at streaming really high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space– making it possible for future human missions beyond Earth orbit.”This accomplishment highlights our dedication to advancing optical communications as an essential element to fulfilling our future data transmission needs,” stated NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Increasing our bandwidth is vital to achieving our future expedition and science objectives, and we look forward to the continued development of this innovation and the transformation of how we interact throughout future interplanetary objectives.”Members of the DSOC group respond to the first high-definition streaming video to be sent by means of laser from deep area on December 11 at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Sent by the DSOC transceiver aboard the Psyche spacecraft, nearly 19 million miles from Earth, the video includes a cat called Taters. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe demo sent the 15-second test video through an innovative instrument called a flight laser transceiver (see image below). The video signal took 101 seconds to reach Earth, sent out at the systems optimum bit rate of 267 megabits per second (Mbps). Efficient in sending and getting near-infrared signals, the instrument beamed an encoded near-infrared laser to the Hale Telescope at Caltechs Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, where it was downloaded. Each frame from the looping video was then sent out “live” to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the video was played in genuine time.The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstrations flight laser transceiver is shown at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in April 2021, before being set up inside its box-like enclosure that was later integrated with NASAs Psyche spacecraft. The transceiver consists of a near-infrared laser transmitter to send high-rate data to Earth, and a sensitive photon-counting cam to get ground-transmitted low-rate information. The transceiver is mounted on an assembly of actuators and struts– displayed in this photo– that supports the optics from spacecraft vibrations. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe laser communications demo, which introduced with NASAs Psyche objective on October 13, is created to transfer information from deep area at rates 10 to 100 times greater than the cutting edge radio frequency systems utilized by deep space objectives today. As Psyche travels to the main asteroid belt in between Mars and Jupiter, the innovation presentation will send high-data-rate signals as far out as the Red Planets biggest distance from Earth. In doing so, it paves the way for higher-data-rate interactions capable of sending complicated clinical details, high-definition images, and video in assistance of humanitys next huge leap: sending out human beings to Mars.”One of the goals is to demonstrate the capability to transmit broadband video throughout countless miles. Nothing on Psyche generates video information, so we generally send out packages of randomly created test information,” said Bill Klipstein, the tech demonstrations job manager at JPL. “But to make this substantial event more memorable, we chose to work with designers at JPL to develop a fun video, which captures the essence of the demonstration as part of the Psyche mission.”This 15-second ultra-high-definition video featuring a cat called Taters was streamed via laser from deep space by NASA on December 11, 2023. It was part of the technology demonstration understood as Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), which is connected to the Psyche spacecraft taking a trip to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Graphics superimposed over the orange tabby cat highlight a number of functions from the tech demo, such as Psyches orbital course and technical information about the laser. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechFeline FrequencyUploaded before launch, the brief ultra-high meaning video features an orange tabby feline called Taters, the animal of a JPL worker, chasing a laser guideline, with overlayed graphics. The graphics highlight several functions from the tech demo, such as Psyches orbital course, Palomars telescope dome, and technical information about the laser and its information bit rate. Taters heart type, rate, and color are likewise on display.”Despite sending from millions of miles away, it was able to send out the video quicker than the majority of high speed internet connections,” said Ryan Rogalin, the projects receiver electronic devices lead at JPL. “In reality, after getting the video at Palomar, it was sent to JPL online, which connection was slower than the signal originating from deep area. JPLs DesignLab did an incredible task helping us display this innovation– everyone enjoys Taters.”A computer system screen in the objective support area shows Taters the feline in a still from the first high-definition streaming video to be sent out by means of laser from deep space, along with the incoming information stream delivering the frames from the video. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechTheres likewise a historic link: Beginning in 1928, a small statue of the popular animation character Felix the Cat was included in television test broadcast transmissions. Today, cat videos and memes are a few of the most popular material online.Milestone After MilestoneThis most current milestone comes after “very first light” was attained on November 14. Ever since, the system has demonstrated faster data downlink speeds and increased pointing precision during its weekly checkouts. On the night of December 4, the job showed downlink bit rates of 62.5 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 267 Mbps, which is equivalent to broadband internet download speeds. The team was able to download a total of 1.3 terabits of information during that time. As a comparison, NASAs Magellan objective to Venus downlinked 1.2 terabits throughout its whole objective from 1990 to 1994.”When we achieved first light, we were delighted, however likewise cautious. This is a brand-new innovation, and we are try out how it works,” stated Ken Andrews, task flight operations lead at JPL. “But now, with the assistance of our Psyche coworkers, we are getting utilized to dealing with the system and can lock onto the spacecraft and ground terminals for longer than we could formerly. We are finding out something new throughout each checkout.”Members of the JPL group pose after the first streamed ultra-HD video was received from deep space. Remote employee (consisting of Taters the cat) appear on the conference screen. Standing, from left, are: Dan Goods, Abi Biswas, Ryan Rogalin, Meera Srinivasan, Bill Klipstein, Oliver Lay, and Christine Chen. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechMore About the MissionThe Deep Space Optical Communications presentation is the most recent in a series of optical communication presentations funded by the Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) program under NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate and supported by NASAs SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program within the companys Space Operations Mission Directorate.The Psyche mission is led by Arizona State University. JPL is accountable for the objectives general management, system engineering, combination and test, and objective operations. Mind is the 14th objective selected as part of NASAs Discovery Program under the Science Mission Directorate, handled by the firms Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. NASAs Launch Services Program, based at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the launch service. Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, offered the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis.
NASA accomplished a breakthrough in deep space interaction by sending a high-definition video from 19 million miles, paving the way for sophisticated data transmission in space exploration. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe video, including a cat named Taters, was sent back from nearly 19 million miles away by NASAs laser interactions presentation, marking a historical milestone.NASAs Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high meaning streaming video on December 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-Moon range). The milestone is part of a NASA innovation demonstration intended at streaming very high-bandwidth video and other information from deep space– enabling future human objectives beyond Earth orbit. Each frame from the looping video was then sent out “live” to NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the video was played in genuine time.The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) innovation presentations flight laser transceiver is shown at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in April 2021, before being set up inside its box-like enclosure that was later integrated with NASAs Psyche spacecraft.”A computer system screen in the mission assistance area shows Taters the feline in a still from the first high-definition streaming video to be sent out via laser from deep area, as well as the incoming information stream providing the frames from the video.