NASA is targeting a metal-rich asteroid Psyche on a mission He tried a new method of communicating: lasers. NASA, An ultra-high-definition cat video into space sent.

NASAs In the context of the Deep Space Optical Communication experiment, with the Psyche spacecraft The data transmission was achieved at a speed of 267 megabits/second. This speed is equal to that of a typical wired broadband connection and much faster than radio frequency communications.

NASA’s Psyche Mission: First Phase Complete

In June, when Psyche was 240 million miles from Earth, data was downloaded at a rate of 6.25 megabits per second. This was an important step in confirming that the data rate of higher frequency laser communications decreases with distance.

The first phase of the mission was successfully completed and it was confirmed that the system data rate decreases with increasing distance. The second phase, starting in November, will prove that the laser transceiver can function for a year, and the system will be fully operational in 2024. NASA’s target asteroid The aim is to reach Psyche in 2029.

NASA’s target planet, Psyche, is scheduled to be reached in 2029. To be used if the mission laser system fails a spare radio frequency It also includes a communication system.