NASA tested a laser communication system and transmitted a video of a cat into space

NASA transmitted information to the Psyche probe, which is sent to the Psyche asteroid using a laser communication system. Over 1.3 TB of data was sent into space at speeds of up to 267 Mbps, comparable to broadband Internet speeds.

The probe was 31 million km from Earth; NASA sent a high-resolution video of 15 seconds into space, which took 101 seconds to transmit. The short video shows a cat named Taters being played with with a laser pointer. The new Deep Space Optical Communications system is expected to be able to transmit data 10 to 100 times faster than a conventional radio frequency system.

Researchers do not yet plan to obtain scientific data using the new system; the next time laser communication will be launched is in 2026, when the probe will be near Mars for a gravitational maneuver – then the distance to Earth will be 330 million km.

Previously NASA launched free streaming video service NASA+, where you can see live broadcasts of space launches and missions of the agency, as well as original shows. Also the space agency NASA signed a contract with the startup TransAstra to create a prototype of a large inflatable bag for collecting space debris in orbit.

Evgeniy Fedunenko