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Source– This post is based on the article “Streaming HD videos from space? Why a NASA spacecraft fired a laser at Earth” published in “The Indian Express” on 24 November 2023.
Why in the News?
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, currently nearly 16 million miles away in space, has transmitted a near-infrared laser at Earth.
Space communication and the associated problems?
1. Use of radiowaves for space communication- Currently most space communication is carried out using radio waves which are characterised by high wave lengths but low frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. High wave length allows them to pass through the atmosphere much easily.
2. Problem of data rates– A limitation of using radiowave is the problem of data rates. Higher bandwidths (range of frequencies) carry more data per second. Scientists would ideally like to transmit data at the highest bandwidths possible to increase the rates of data transfer.
– It is to address this challenge that NASA has come up with Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment.
What is NASA’S Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment?
1. NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment seeks to use near-infrared laser signals for communication with spacecraft.
2. The laser transmission took place on November 14, 2023 is a demonstration of this and has been described as “first light” by NASA
3. The Psyche spacecraft is the first to carry a DSOC transceiver, and will be testing high-bandwidth optical communications to Earth during the first two years of the spacecraft’s journey to the main asteroid belt.
What is the Significance of this experiment?
1. DSOC will allow data rates at least 10 times higher than state-of-the-art radio telecommunications systems of comparable size and power.
2. It will enable higher resolution images, larger volumes of science data, and even streaming video.
3. DSOC is taking optical communications into deep space, paving the way for high-bandwidth communications far beyond the Moon.
3. It will help future human and robotic exploration missions.
What is NASA’s Psyche mission?
| What is it? | 1. Psyche is a NASA space mission to explore the origin of planetary cores by orbiting and studying the asteroid 16 Psyche (metal-rich asteroid, orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter) 2. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the project. |
| Launched on | October 13, 2023 |
| Features of Psyche Spacecraft | 1. The spacecraft will not land on the asteroid, but will orbit it from August 2029 through late 2031. 2. Psyche uses solar-powered hall effect thrusters for propulsion and orbital maneuvering, the first interplanetary spacecraft to use that technology. 3. It’s also the first mission to use laser optical communications beyond the Earth-Moon system. |
| Significance of this mission | 1. Scientists believe this asteroid is the nickel-iron core of an early planet, studying which could provide unique insights into the impenetrable iron core of our own planet. 2. The Psyche mission is expected to provide critical insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. |
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