NASA experts reported that a new data transfer took place from the Psyche probe, which uses a laser communication system, this time from a distance of more than 460 million kilometers from Earth. This is greater than the maximum distance from our planet to Mars. The Psyche probe went into space last year to examine the asteroid of the same name. Among other things, engineers equipped the device with an experimental optical communications system (Deep Space Optical Communications, DSOC), which, unlike traditional radio communication, can transmit data ten times faster.

The first experiment with optical communications took place in December 2023. Then “Psyche” transmitted to Earth a 15-second clip (the video was uploaded to the probe before launching into space) with the participation of a red tabby cat named Taters, the pet of one of the NASA employees. At that time, the device was 31 million kilometers away from our planet. The transfer rate was 267 megabits per second.

In April 2024, engineers conducted a new optical communication test: “Psyche” transmitted a message while 226 million kilometers from Earth. The transfer rate was 25 megabits per second instead of one megabit per second as experts assumed.

At the end of July, the automatic interplanetary station reactivated the laser 460 million kilometers from Earth. The transmission speed once again exceeded engineers’ expectations: the probe sent information at a rate of 6.25 megabits per second.